Threat detection system having remote/cloud or local central monitoring unit for communicating with internet addressable gateway devices and associated wireless sensor and sub-sensor devices, that blanket a venue using multi-hop and low power communication platforms with such communication by mesh zigbee, z-wave, ipv6, bluetooth, wifi, cellular, satellite or broadband network arrangement and reporting data, data rate of change non-compliance and device location non-compliance and device non-resp

ABSTRACT

A data sensing and threat detection network comprising a plurality of wireless sensor devices and their related wireless sub-sensor devices, for communication, with wireless detector units/gateways in a network arrangement to allow transmission of data there between in optimized paths, such wireless detector units to communicate, by secure means, to and front a Central Monitoring Unit that manages the sensing and client alert processes, based upon wireless sensor values/conditions and wireless sub-sensor values/conditions as they relate to pre-determined values/conditions, and sensor device location co-ordinates data (derived from GPS or CTS, or the like) as it relates to pre-determined “location differential values”, data “timeframe-based rate of change” as it relates to pre-determined “rate of change differentials” in a pre-determined timeframe or part thereof, and the like, with the Central Monitoring Unit enabling related devices and alerting clients, and confirming that such related devices have been enabled and alerts have been delivered, as and when required. Notwithstanding, the data sensing and threat detection network provides clients with a powerful, flexible and dynamic central monitoring system and related wireless gateways, sensor and sub-sensors that provide a true data management solution with Homeland Security color coded normal, aware, alert and urgent alert graphic representation, and archiving, of all data, in accordance with client needs.

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/205,148,filed Jul. 8, 20:16, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/616, 642, filedFeb. 6, 2015, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/902,478, filed May 24,2013, and priority of U.S. provisional application 61/651,231, filed May24, 2012, is hereby claimed. The disclosures of all of the aboveapplications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates generally to environmental data sensingsystems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a systemutilizing sensor devices for detecting and reporting environmentalthreats such as, but not limited to, chemical, biological, radiological,nuclear and explosives (CBRNE), hazardous material and volatile organiccompounds (HAZMAT/VOCs), toxin/disease and critical conditions, andothers that, for example, diminish the quality of life, so thatappropriate action can be taken. Such sensor devices may be referred toherein as “critical condition” sensor devices. More generally, the term“threat” is meant to refer to the exceeding, on the lower and/or upperside, a desired sensed value range. For example, in an industrialprocess, it may be desired that a temperature not climb over 100 degreesF. (upper side) nor go below 30 degrees F. (lower side), and exceeding(going above on the upper side or going below on the lower side) therespective predetermined temperature would be considered a threat.

The events of Sep. 11, 2001, pointed to the need to reliably and quicklydetect multiple threats (chemical, biological, nuclear, etc.) in thefield so that they could be countered quickly. A need for such a systemstill exists and is this a long-felt need.

The present invention relates to an integrated system and method for theclosed-loop collection of data and analysis to detect one or moreenvironmental threats, such as, but not limited to, chemical,biological, radiological-nuclear and explosives (“CBRNE”), and/orhazardous material and volatile organic compounds (“HAZMAT/VOCs”),and/or food, air and water contamination and disease (“Toxins/disease”),and/or unexpected events such as excessive water and/or other liquidescape or consumption, water and/or other liquid level and/or flowdetection, motion detection, open/closed detection, GPS-based location,cellular triangulation-based location, schedule adherence, humidity andtemperature and light level and barometric pressure (based upon upperand lower thresholds), impact and/or inertia and vibration (“CriticalConditions”), temperature and humidity and the like in HVAC systems,temperature and humidity and motion and water presence and the like inSmart Homes, and various other environmental threats in containers,enclosures, container ships, seaports, aircraft, airports, transitsystems, air/food and water supply chains, walk-in and reach-in coolers,freezers, cooking and warming ovens, oceans/ponds and lakes, buildingresource utilization and military warfare, offices, restaurants,factories, assembly plants, homes and various other venues, hereinaftercollectively referred to as “Venue” or “Venues.”

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,663 discloses a system using sensors for performingenvironmental measurements (such as temperature, humidity, etc.) and fortransferring the results over a cellular radio system to centralequipment as well as to cellular customers. The sensors are physicallyconnected to base stations of a cellular radio system. The measuringstations are equipped for giving an alarm if any of the measured resultsexceed a certain alarm limit or if a serious malfunction occurs in thefunction of the measuring station (sensor). Individual alarm limits canbe set and changed using commands from central equipment. U.S. Pat. No.7,081,816 discloses a compact wireless sensor, and U.S. Pat. No.7,218,094 discloses a wireless test system. Also see U.S. publishedapplications 2004/0038385 and 2006/0057599 and European published patentdocument EP 622625. These and all other patents and publishedapplications referred to herein are incorporated herein by reference.

In a wireless network which consists of multi-hop, IPV6 and otherrelated network protocols based on 6LoWPAN, WiFi or cellular networkarrangements, multiple sensor devices are deployed wherein informationis ultimately transmitted to detector units or gateways. A singletransmission of information from one such device to another may becalled a “hop.” If there is transmission of information from one suchdevice to another which then re-transmits the information to anotherdevice (in two or more hops) before it is finally transmitted to adetector unit, it may then be said that the transmission is in two hops.This may be done, as considered optimal for the network, for effectingwireless transmission over further distances to a detector unit than ifeach device transmission had to be directly to a detector unit. In suchnetworks, some transmissions of information to a detector unit may besingle hop transmissions and others may be multi-hop transmissions.However, even if all transmissions to detector units are one-hoptransmissions, it is still considered to be a multi-hop network, as longas the network has the ability to organize the devices to transmit datato the detector units using an optimized path, which can include anynumber of hops including one hop. A ZigBee-type wireless multi-hopnetwork is disclosed in U.S. published application 2011/0063999. Awireless sensor network with multi-hop routing connectivity is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 7,830,838. Other examples of such networks are found inU.S. Pat. Nos. 7,224,642; 7,831,283; 8,023,501; 8,102,787; 8,134,942;8,138,934; 8,140,143; 8,160,600, and U.S. published applications2010/0094583 and 2010/0235504, all of which patents and publishedapplications referred to above and elsewhere in this application beingincorporated herein by reference. While sensor devices in such a networkmay be adapted for such re-transmission of information, other devicessuch as routers may alternatively be incorporated in the network andadapted for such re-transmission of information. By multi-hop, as usedherein and in the claims, is meant a wireless network system comprisingdevices for transmitting and receiving data and detector units forreceiving and transmitting the data, wherein the system has thecapability to organize the transmission of the data from each device toits detector unit, either in a single hop wherein the data istransmitted directly to the respective detector unit or in multiple hopswherein the data is transmitted to the respective detector unit via oneor more intermediary devices which re-transmit the data. The devicesmay, but not necessarily, include sensor devices for providing andtransmitting or re-transmitting sensed information and may, but notnecessarily, include devices such as routers or other devices forre-transmission of the data, which re-transmission would result inmultiple hops of the data to the respective detector unit. The detectorunits may of course re-transmit the received data in accordance with therequirements of the system, such as immediately to a central monitoringunit. Thus, the network is self-organized among the sensor devices, anynon-sensor re-transmission devices, and detector units, thereby toeliminate single points of failure in the wireless network/system and toallow transmission of sensed data over greater distances to a detectorunit than if there was no such capability for re-transmission of theinformation. The detector units transmit the information wirelessly tothe remote central monitoring unit (“CMU”)through means such as cellularnetworks or satellite networks, and/or by secure wire ethernet broadbandconnection to the internet or by an intranet connection to the localCMU.

The multi-hop, IPV6 and other related network protocols based upon6LoWPAN and the like (all self-managed Internet of Things networks) plusWiFi or cellular networks (may be considered to be an improvement overand is distinguished from what might be called a “hub and spoke” networkin which a plurality of sensor devices must each communicate directlywith a particular detector unit which in turn must communicate such aswith a central monitoring unit. As a result, a hub and spoke networkdoes not have multi-hop capability thus requiring towers to be built forexpensive wireless repeaters. Also, significant alternating current,with large battery back-up, is required to boost the signal strength. Asa result, many potential points of failure are undesirably created. Forexample, a system utilizing wireless sensors marketed by MonnitCorporation of Midvale, Utah (www.monnit.com) utilizes a hub and spokenetwork.

Threat detection systems have typically relied on alarm thresholds thatare published and/or utilized by others to determine the environmentalthreat value at which a sensor will initiate an alarm, with the resultthat the sensors initiate alarms so very frequently that they may beconsidered an annoyance and disregarded (turned off) by those such asmilitary units or manufacturing managers in charge of them.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,356 discloses the detection of real events such aspathogens or radiation, a stated object being to virtually eliminatefalse positives. This is done by obtaining a set of recent signalresults, calculating measures of the noise or variation based thereon,calculating an expected baseline value based thereon, determining sampledeviation, calculating an allowable deviation by multiplying the sampledeviation by a threshold factor, and setting an alarm threshold from thebaseline value plus or minus the allowable deviation. The system duringoperation determines whether the signal results exceed the alarmthreshold. The detection algorithm has two stages that cycle with everynew sample update. The first is to estimate the new value of thebaseline, and the second is to determine if the new sample is indeedpositive [col. 5, lines 17 to 20]. The recent his toxical data isanalyzed by a form of regression to: generate an expected value for thenext data point. The historical data is also analyzed to determine astandard deviation from noise, and a multiple of this standard deviationis added to the expected value to determine the threshold. This is saidto allow the thresholds to tighten when there is a low level of noise,giving the best possible sensitivity, and then expand when the signalsbecome noisy, maintaining a low probability of false positive [col. 13,lines 21 to 32].

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,088,230 and 7,362,223 disclose detection systems forchemical, biological, and nuclear weapons wherein alarm thresholds arebased on the likelihood of attack during certain environmentalconditions such as whether it is raining or not. Wireless telemetry isused [col. 3, line 55, '223 patent]. See also published applications2004/0038385 and 2006/0057599 relative to systems for autonomousmonitoring of bio-agents.

Other patents which may be of interest to alarm thresholds include U.S.Pat. Nos. 3,634,839; 4,490,831; 4,514,720; 4,785,283; 5,172,096;5,471,194; 5,845,237; 6,704 691; 6,956,473; 6,989,742; 7,030,746;7,249,287; 7,250,855; 7,363,168; 7,437,249; and 7,733,220.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,366, 624 discloses a sensor signal conditioner for aplug-in module comprising a gas sensor and sensor specificationinformation (TEDS) stored in digital form therewith. It is said that theconditioner can automatically adapt to a wide variety of commercialoff-the-shelf sensors and provide a digital output in a standard easilyused format [Abstract and col. 1, lines 25 to 33]. The conditioner hasan analog section which controls the module, and a digital sectioncomprising a microcontroller which controls the analog section andprovides a readable digital output. It is stated that there aremicroelectromechanical systems (MEMS) which promise much smaller size,lower power, and lower cost than conventional gas sensors, and that manyare under development but few are commercially available [col. 5, lines59 to 67].

U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,194 discloses an integrated modular measurementsystem which includes a universal module which receives measurement datafrom one or more measurement sensors, converts the data to a value thatrepresents the characteristic being measured, and indicates the value toa user. An input module is coupled to the universal module and housesone or more measurement sensors (with optional multiplexing) andcontains memory, including calibration information, associated with andlocal to the sensors. A sensor is calibrated prior to its use, i.e., thesensor measures the appropriate characteristic over an appropriaterange, wherein each value in the range is known, and the measuredcharacteristic is then compared against the known characteristic acrossthat range and calibration constants are thereby calculated anddownloaded into memory associated with that particular sensor forsubsequent use [col. 9, lines 49 to 59]. Other modular sensor systemsare disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,340,543; 5,808,179; 6,029,499;7,366,624; and 7,506,533, all of which are incorporated herein byreference.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a more reliable,robust and flexible threat detection system.

It is another object of the present invention to more reliably eliminatefalse positives from such a system without introducing false negatives.

It is another object of the present invention to more reliably determinewhen a wireless detector, wireless sensor or wireless sub-sensor hasbeen moved, without authorization, or has failed to respond within apredetermined timeframe.

It is another object of the present invention to more reliably detect“rate of change” non-compliance of sensed values, such that earlydefection of non-compliance with pre-determined “rate of change”threshold values within a pre-determined timeframe, or part thereof, canbe determined.

It is another object of the present invention to detect sensed valuesthat require the enabling of a relational device(s) as soon as arules-based decision process has been performed by the CentralMonitoring Unit (“CMU”), a decision to proceed has been determined, theenabling event has been performed, and a subsequent closed-loopdetection cycle has confirmed that the enabled device(s) has/have beenenabled, and remain in an enabled state until the CMU decides otherwise.

It is another object of the present invention to quickly providereal-time qualified alerts to system users/responders 30A and 30B andoptionally to client computer systems 30E and call centers 30C, whensensed values such as temperature, humidity and/or light level and thelike are non-compliant with normal pre-determined threshold ranges orwhen there are non-compliant conditions such as a door open (when itshould be closed) Or motion (when it should be still), or detector units(gateways/coordinators) or sensor devices do not respond when scheduled,due to sabotage or failure or for some other reason. With respect tonon-compliance of sensed values with threshold ranges, a qualifiedalert, illustrated at 214, is one which is declared after subjection ofdata to the rules-based process hereinafter described with respect toFIGS. 2 and 3, including one which may also be declared after thesensing of such a condition as described above.

It is yet another object of the present invention to inexpensivelyprovide such a reliable system for the mass market.

Single purpose sensor devices for compounds such as sarin and the likeor other sensor devices may not remain accurate as temperature,humidity, barometric pressure, and the like increase or decrease overtime unless otherwise suitably adjusted therefor. It is accordinglyanother object of the present invention to provide group sensor deviceswith the ability to sense directly related data (data such astemperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and the like that have adirect bearing on the sensed value of a critical condition such aspresence of a chemical compound or radiation being sensed) and toutilize this sensed directly related data to adjust the sensed value ofthe critical condition, so as to provide an adjusted sensed value of thecritical condition which is more accurate than the unadjusted sensedvalue. For example, as humidity increases, it is an object of thepresent invention to adjust the sensed concentration value of a chemicalcompound therefor. Also, a group sensor may include a configuration suchas a door condition sensor and motion sensor in conjunction with a videocapture subsystem.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent in the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment(s) when read in conjunction with the appendeddrawings wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similarparts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system for declaring an alert whichembodies the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating how the system is used todetermine whether to declare an alert.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the steps in making a decisionwhether to declare an alert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown generally at 10 a system fordetecting and responding to environmental threats, such as chemical,biological, radiological-nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) and criticalconditions and various other threats which can be detected with sensortechnology. The system 10 includes a plurality (perhaps hundreds orthousands) of sensor devices, illustrated at 14, placed in selectedenvironmental locations where the respective threat may occur. Forexample, the sensor devices 14 may be fastened near the ceilings alongthe walls of an airport corridor or on the runway or in the airportparking lot or at various points within a city, etc. Their locations areselected preferably so that they may not be easily observed or removedby members of the public and to the extent possible may be at locationsnot accessible to the public, and in many situations will be camouflagedto conceal their presence. The sensor devices 14 in a particular areamay all be for sensing a particular environmental condition or may sensea variety of environmental conditions as considered appropriate. Thesensor devices may be portable sensor devices, illustrated at 14P anddescribed hereinafter, or may contain smart plugs, illustrated at 14Sand described hereinafter, or may be other specially adapted sensordevices.

Information as to environmental threats or other information to besensed which is collected by the sensor devices 14 is transmitted todetector units 20, which may also be called herein and in the claimsdetectors or detector devices or coordinators or gateways, which provideinformation to the sensor devices 14 for control thereof and whichprocess and provide the processed information to a central monitoringunit 26, which is a remote (cloud or other) or local central real-timemonitoring, database, reporting, and management system. The remote orlocal central monitoring unit 26 sends information to the detector units20 over the internet as illustrated at 28 for control thereof andprocesses the information received from the detector units 20 andcommunicates with the client 30 via the internet, as illustrated at 32.A reference herein and in the claims to the internet is meant to alsoinclude, if appropriate, cellular network, satellite network or localintranet.

The central monitoring unit 26 and detector units (gateways) 20 maycommunicate using a suitable communications technology 28 such as, butnot limited to, ethernet broadband, WiFi, cellular or satellite. Whilemany detector units 20 may be located at a given Venue such as on acontainer ship, an intermediary base station communication multiplexer(not shown) may optionally be utilized to concentrate the wirelesscommunications between the detector units 20 and the central monitoringunit 26.

The clients, including their authorized administrators and responders,may use client browser functionality, illustrated at 30B, to communicateto and from the central monitoring unit 26 over an SSL (secure internetconnection) 33. Also, Client browser 30B functionality may be used fromanywhere in the world with internet access, through any computer systemwith internet connectivity, using a secure SSL connection 33 provided bythe central monitoring unit, to obtain sensor device and detector unit(gateway) status information, review current and archived sensor devicedata, in normal, aware and alert and urgent alert status, and makechanges to threshold or condition parameters or update sensor alertnotification priorities for specific or ail sensor devices 14 orspecific or specific or all detector units 20, as more specificallydescribed hereinafter.

Each sensor device 14 comprises the sensor (or sensors) 16 for theselected environmental condition (or conditions) and a suitable digitalmicroprocessor 12, including memory and input/output means, forprocessing the information sensed by the sensor 16. Similarly, asdiscussed hereinafter, each sub-sensor device 15 comprises a sub-sensor17 for the selected environmental condition and a suitable digitalmicroprocessor 13, including memory and input/output means, forprocessing the information sensed by the sub-sensor 17. Unlessinappropriate from the context or inconsistent with the remainder ofthis specification or unless stated otherwise herein, a discussion ofthe sensor devices 14 and their components will also apply to thesub-sensor devices 15 and their components, and a discussion of thepurpose of the sub-sensor devices 15 will be presented hereinafter. Inthe claims, the terms “sensing devices” or “sensing units” will refergenerically to sensor devices 14 and/or sub-sensor devices 15, andtherefore a recitation to sensing devices in the claims is not meant torequire that any of the sensing devices be sub-sensor devices and isalso not meant to require that any of the sensing devices be sensordevices. The microprocessor 12 desirably has non-volatile flash memoryand random access memory and a wireless module, including a radiofrequency transceiver, as appropriate. A suitable antenna 18 is suitablyconnected to a respective microprocessor 12 and a suitable antenna 24 issuitably connected to a respective detector 20A for wirelessly relayingthe processed information (desirably encrypted) to the respectivedetector 20A, as illustrated at 22.

Communication between the sensor devices 14 and their respectivedetectors 20 may, for example, be via the previously discussed anddefined multi-hop, WiFi or cellular wireless networks or may be byInternet of Things (“IoT”) networks such as ZigBee, Z-Wave, IPV6 andother related network protocols based upon 6LoWPAN, or the like, thenetworks being self-organized to provide data transmissions to thedetector devices over optimized pathways, i.e., an individual sensordevice such as 14A may be programmed to transmit and receive informationto and from detector 20A or it may be programmed to transmit and receiveinformation to and from another detector such as 20B, thereby to allowflexibility in deployment and flexibility in use of the sensor devicessuch as allowing a sensor device to transmit arid receive information toand from a different detector if the detector to which it iscommunicating becomes inoperative or if the sensor device is required tobe deployed on another detector. In addition, messages to and from adetector 20 such as detector 20B, may be routed from one sensor devicesuch as 14B to another sensor device such as 14S, as illustrated at 22A,to then be re-routed or re-transmitted by the miciroprocessor 12 ofsensor device 14S to the detector 20B via an optional router 23 having amicroprocessor, including memory and input/output means, and an antenna24, in accordance with principles commonly known to those of ordinaryskill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Thus, thetransmittal of information from the sensor device 14B is shown torequire 3 transmittals or hops 22A, 22B, and 22C (i.e., multi-hop), itbeing understood that a sensor device may be used instead of the router23, and hereafter a reference to the re-transmittal of information by asensor device is meant to include a re-transmittal of the information byan optional router, unless otherwise specified. For transmittal ofinformation from the detector 20B to the sensor device 14B, it isunderstood that the same pathway in reverse 22C, 22B, 22A may be used.The sensor devices 14 and any routers 23, including any associatedsub-sensor devices 15 (discussed hereinafter) are desirablyclosely-spaced, in a venue to provide a redundancy so that the failureof any one sensor device 14 or router 23 or sub-sensor device 15 withinthe venue will have a minuscule or non-impact on the performance of thepresent invention, with respect to sensing integrity and continuitywithin the venue. The ability to transfer a sensor device 14 or router23 between detectors 20 as well as the ability of sensor devices 14 orrouters 23 to relay information from more distant sensor devices 14 orrouters 23 (such as the relaying of information from sensor device 14Bto detector 20B via sensor device 14S and/or router 23, as discussedmore fully hereinafter) advantageously allows a flexibility inorganizing and use of the network, thereby to facilitate wireless sensordevice coverage of a physical space.

Each detector 20 suitably has a microprocessor with non-volatile flashmemory and volatile random access memory and a wireless module,including a radio frequency transceiver, for communication with thesensor devices 14, and suitably includes a multi-hop, IPV6 and otherrelated network protocols based upon 6LoWPAN, or the like, and WiFi orcellular wireless transceiver and/or an ethernet broadband transceiverand/or satellite transceiver or other suitable equipment forcommunication with the central monitoring unit 26. Each detector 20 isalso suitably programmed, in accordance with principles of commonknowledge to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the presentinvention pertains, to transmit information (desirably encrypted) tosensor devices 14 for control thereof, for example, to program orre-program them, including setting or resetting particular sensor alertcondition thresholds and/or sensor alert value thresholds and/orexpanded alert value thresholds, as discussed in greater detailhereinafter. Thus, a sensor device 14 may be easily and quickly replacedby a sensor device for the threat, by assigning to it the same PAN ID(or other suitable identifier) as the PAN ID (or identifier) of thesensor device being replaced, thus ensuring that it operates on thecorrect wireless frequency and its introduction is seamless to therelated detector 20. A particular sensor device 14 may thus betransferred between detectors 20 to send processed information theretoand to receive information therefrom, in accordance with the needs ofthe network and user's needs, since such activities can be supported bythose of ordinary skill in the art to which the present inventionpertains by properly trained client personnel.

Each detector 20 is preferably kept in a secure location such as, forexample, in a secured cabinet so as to be free from public interferenceor tampering. Each detector 20 and sensor device 14 may be suitablyequipped and programmed, in accordance with principles of commonknowledge to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the: presentinvention pertains, to detect that a sensor device 14 has been moved orremoved without authorization or otherwise tampered with. A sensordevice 14 may, for example, be up to several miles from its associateddetector 20, due to the flexibility offered by wireless mesh multi-hop,IPV6 and other Internet of Things related network protocols based upon6LoWPAN, WiFi or cellular networks data transmission wherein informationmay be relayed from one sensor device to another, such as from sensordevice 14B to sensor device 14S, before it is relayed to detector 20B.For another example, information may be relayed from sub-sensor device15 to sensor device 14A, before it is relayed to detector 20A. Thesensor devices 14 and sub-sensor devices 15 are thus easily andconveniently connected and disconnected as needed, using the clientbrowser 30B, to other sensor devices 14 or detectors 20 for sensing thesame or generally similar sensor device conditions or values to meet therequirements of the system 10, such as if a detector 20 or sensor device14 becomes inoperative or if client needs necessitate the transfer ofsensor devices 14 and their sub-sensor devices 15 between detectors 20.

The detectors 20 may be electrically powered, and have battery backuppower, or otherwise suitably powered, and sensor devices 14 andsub-sensor devices 15 may utilize long-life rechargeable and/orreplaceable long-life batteries (for several years) or other suitablepower sources, such as micro wind turbines, solar panels, vibration, andradio frequency energy harvesting, and alternately may have batterybackup power, and are preferably built, in accordance with principles ofcommon knowledge to those of ordinary skill in the art to which thepresent invention pertains, to withstand and reliably operate in thewide temperature and humidity ranges and harsh environments and may haveshock mounting of electronic components and be configured to interfacewith and receive unique venue information.

High quality radiation and gas chromatograph (GC) sensor devices maycost in the range of as much as $75,000 to $125,000 or more (and aregenerally the size of a tabletop), while other lower quality radiationand gas chromatograph (GC) sensors may cost on the order of $17,500 to$25,000 (and are large mobile devices). Such inexpensive lower qualitysensor devices may be equipped and programmed to transmit minimalinformation such as Cellular Triangulation System (CTS) and/or GlobalPositioning System (GPS) data and only readings over certain staticthresholds and are not equipped for transmitting information directly toand receiving information directly from a detector 20. In order tomaintain reliability of the network as well as to blanket an area totherefore provide the desired adequate redundancy for effectivemonitoring of a site, the high cost of the high quality tabletop sensordevices may make the system overly expensive. Therefore, in accordancewith the present invention, in order to provide both the desired qualityand redundancy inexpensively, a large number of inexpensive sub-sensordevices 15, suitably battery powered, are provided for communicationwith an individual sensor device 14 for an area for sending minimalinformation thereto and receiving minimal information therefrom. Boththe sensor devices 14 and their associated sub-sensor devices 15 may be,for example, MEMS-based or NEMS-based (micro-electro-mechanicalsystem-based or nano-electro-mechanical system-based respectively). Forthe purposes of this specification and the claims, a sub-sensor device15 is defined as one which is equipped to transmit information to andreceive information from a sensor device 14 and is not equipped todirectly (i.e., without re-transmission by another device) transmitinformation to and receive information from a detector.

In order to further reduce cost without sacrificing quality, thecommunication of data, preferably in encrypted form, between asub-sensor device 15 and its nearby sensor device 14 is preferablyprovided by a low power and thus relatively inexpensive wirelesstechnology such as, for example, Bluetooth wireless technology (underabout 10 milliwatts of power) or other low power (defined as generallyunder 100 milliwatts of power) communications suitable for providing theneeded communications over the relative short distance (for example, adistance of up to about 25 feet) between a sub-sensor device 15 and itsnearby sensor device 14. Whenever Bluetooth technology is referred toherein, it is to be understood that other suitable low power wirelesstechnology may be substituted therefor. Thus, for communications betweena sub-sensor device 15 and its associated sensor device 14A, thesub-sensor microprocessor 13 may have non-volatile memory and minimalvolatile memory, and each of them 15 and 14A has a Bluetooth transceiver19 and 25 respectively with the microprocessors 13 and 12 respectivelysuitably programmed, in accordance with principles of common knowledgeto those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present inventionpertains, for communications there between (for both transmitting andreceiving). As an alternative to Bluetooth technology, one of thewireless low power wireless Internet of Things 6LowPAN based platformsmay be used, or another suitable low power wireless technology may beused.

Communication between sensor devices 14 and other sensor devices 14 andthe detectors 20 preferably utilize Internet of Things (“IoT”) low-cost,low-power, wireless networking communication technology such as ZigBeeor Z-Wave for device monitoring and control, or alternatively IPV6network protocol based on 6LoWPAN and including, Thread, SigFox, Neul orLoRaWAN, and the like, which have higher wireless network power than theless expensive and lower power Bluetooth technology which is consideredadequate for the communication between the sensor devices 14 and theirmore closely spaced sub-sensor devices 15 (can communicate withBluetooth technology over a distance up to about 25 feet and muchfurther using 6LowPAN based wireless technologies, or the like). Thewell-developed and well known ZigBee communications, at a frequency of2.4 gigahertz, can provide inexpensive communications between twocommunications devices up to about a quarter mile at the most (that is,without the benefit of multi-hop and/or use of 900 megahertz frequencyand of course indefinitely with multi-hop or range extending routers).Using IPV6 network protocols based on 6LoWPAN technology as well asZigBee technology, at a frequency of 900 megahertz in North America,communications over a distance up to several miles is realistic. BothZigBee and 6LoWPAN-based technologies are wireless personal areanetworks (WPAN) while Bluetooth technology is an open wirelesstechnology that allows electronic devices to communicate over shortdistances (on the order of up to about 25 feet).

In order to connect a sub-sensor device 15 to a sensor device 14 fortransmission of sensing data thereto, the sub-sensor device 15 must bein sufficient proximity (within about 25 feet using Bluetooth technologyand about 100 feet using 6LoWPAN technologies) to and be compatible withthe sensor device 14, i.e., a GC sub-sensor device would normallycommunicate with a GC sensor device but would not normally communicatewith a nuclear sensor device.

The sensor device 14 and any sub-sensor devices 15 are desirablyphysically arranged with such number and closeness, blanketing the Venue(selected area such as an airport), that it may be said that all orsubstantially all the physical space in a Venue is sampled, as may berequired on an on-going basis, and the failure of any one sensor device14 or related sub-sensor device 15 accordingly may have a minuscule ornon-impact on the sensing integrity and continuity of data sensing forthe Venue, due to the redundancy in the system.

The sensor and sub-sensor devices 14 and 15 respectively are providedwith a suitable modular construction so that their sensors 16 andrelated sub-sensors 17 can be easily replaced (such as when they becomeinoperative) and to be replaced with sensors and sub-sensors for otherenvironmental conditions and the microprocessors 12 and 13 thereofrespectively suitably re-programmed. Accordingly, the sensor andsub-sensor devices 14 and 15 respectively of such modular constructionmay be referred to herein and in the claims as sensor modules andsub-sensor modules respectively or as modular sensors and modularsub-sensors respectively. It should however be understood that a sensoror sub-sensor device, when used herein and in the claims, may or may notbe modular. For example, a sensor device and its related sensor may beconstructed in a modular fashion, in accordance with principles ofcommon knowledge to those of ordinary skill in the art to which thepresent invention pertains, so that a gas chromatograph sensor forcertain gases may be replaced with a suitable gas chromatograph sensorfor other gases, wherein they are suitably constructed to be thuslyinterchangeable, and its microprocessor 12 suitably re-programmed by thecentral monitoring unit 26, in accordance with principles of commonknowledge to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the presentinvention pertains. While, as previously discussed, multiple sensordevices 14 and sub-sensor devices 15 of the same-type may be placed in aVenue (selected area such as an airport) to provide redundancy, variousother types of sensor devices 14 and sub-sensor devices 15 may also beplaced in the Venue. The digital operation of the sensor devices 14 anddetectors 20 allows such multiple and replaceable (plug-in) uses.

While sensor devices 14 and sub-sensor devices 15 may normally bebattery operated, routers 23 or relay sensor devices (such as the sensordevice illustrated at 14S, which relays information from sensor device14B to detector 20B) may be powered by alternating current electricityand have battery backup power, and the self-organized wireless(multi-hop) network desirably effects sensor device demand to beequalized to optimize battery life, and complementary energy harvestingpower sources such as solar or wind or vibration or otherwise: may beused as suitable. For some Venues or conditions, such as landfill sites,the sensor devices 14 and sub-sensor devices 15 may be suitablyprogrammed by the central monitoring unit 26 to shut down (sleep) for aperiod of time, such as an hour or until a specific event occurs thatcauses an instant power up (wake-up), in accordance with conventionaltechnology.

A MAC (media access control) address is a unique hexadecimal identifierfor each detector 20 and sensor device 14 in accordance with the802.15.4 IEEE standard. A PAN ID (personal area network identification)is a hexadecimal identifier that, in this implementation, is unique foreach detector 20 and related sensor devices 14 and ensures that they aretransmitting/receiving on the same wireless frequency. By hexadecimal ismeant base 16, and this identifier may be from 0x0000000000000234 to0xFFFFFFFFPFFFFFFF, where 0x (which is the numeral zero followed by theletter x, here and elsewhere in this specification for identification ofa PAN ID) signifies that a 16-position hexadecimal PAN ID identifierfollows, wherein only one of the digits 0 to 9 and letters A to F areallowed in each of the 16 positions. This number allows the switching ofa sensor device 14 from one detector 20 to another, for use, forexample, to add a sensor device, to remove a sensor device and addanother if it malfunctions, to remove a sensor device, to connect asensor device to a different detector, or for other needs as thecircumstances may require, in accordance with principles commonly knownto those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present inventionpertains. The PAN ID is not needed for the sub-sensor devices 15 as BlueTooth and hub and spoke technology do not need or use PAN ID.

A sensor device, such as what is referred to herein as a smart sensordevice 14S, may desirably be equipped with a smart plug, illustrated at47, which is shown at 48 plugged into a power source (wall outlet) ofalternating current to provide the needed amount of power, connected tothe microprocessor 12 for suitable control of and receipt of informationtherefrom, and equipped with suitable battery back-up to provideemergency power. A smart plug is a device that enables/disableselectrical power to remotely operate/turn off a device such as a heateror a garage door opener or an electrical light as well as provideinformation via its microprocessor as to the condition (open or closedgarage door, on or off light or heater, electrical amperage beingconsumed, etc.). The smart plug 47 is a sensing and enabling module thatcommunicates with a detector 20B via the sensor device microprocessor12, and the CMU 26 is suitably programmed for automatic on/off patternsthereof. The client browser 30B or another suitable browser is used toaccess the CMU 26 to modify or override (as appropriate) the on/offpatterns.

For example and not for the purposes of limitation, as illustrated inFIG. 1, in what is known as an IoT/M2M (machine to machine) application,the smart plug sensor device 14S may communicate with the CMU 26,through the multi-hop router 23 and detector 20B, using a suitableaddressing scheme and check-in timing, such as MAC (Media AccessControl) addressing, which is the same addressing scheme and check-intiming used to communicate with the other sensor devices 14. The CMU 26manages communications with sensor devices 14 using normal stateheartbeat and aware state (described hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 2and 3) heartbeat check-in to control the interval between scheduledresponses from the sensor devices 14. For example, a sensor device maybe directed to check in with sensor reading/condition data in 5 minuteintervals (normal state heartbeat) or 1 minute intervals (aware stateheartbeat) respectively, subject to unexpected event occurrences(emergency events) that result in immediate sensor 14 check-in to theCMU 26. The client will choose the CMU 26 check-in interval timing andalert system settings during initialization (discussed hereinafter withrespect to 202 in FIG. 3) and thereafter and during monitoring, based onthe client's unique needs. Subsequently, for example, when the CMU 26receives sensor data (such as temperature, light level, and amperage)from sensor device 14S, during the normal state or aware state heartbeatcheck-in or emergency event response check-in activities, a returnacknowledgement by the CMU 26 to the sensor device 14S may include acode to disable or enable the smart plug electric AC outlet 47 that ispart of the sensor device 14S, for example, to control a lamp, based oninformation residing in the CMU 26, for sensor device 14S. Thisinformation may include electrical outlet enabling times such as by day,day of week, type of day, and time of day, as specified by the clientfor its particular needs and which are populated by the client on an asreceived basis, with browser management control and updating bysmartphone, tablet, laptop computer, or other suitable device, asrequired. When these actions have been requested to occur, the sensordevice 14S, in accordance with the example, confirms that the lamp lightis on or off as requested by sensing the light level and/or amperagedraw or otherwise as suitable to ensure that the requested physicalaction has actually occurred. This sensed data is transmitted to the CMU26 during check-in for assessment and for alert processing if therequested physical action has not occurred. Thus, after a sensor device14S has enabled its electric outlet and the light from the lamp andamperage draw (from the lamp attached to that outlet) have notincreased, the CMU declares an alert state. Furthermore, by way ofexample, the functionality controlled by other 14S-like smart sensordevices may be said to be virtually unlimited, including, for examplebut not limited thereto, staged opening and closing of window blinds,turning audible and/or visual alarms on or off, making light adjustmentsin stages, controlling illuminated signs based upon certain conditionssuch as the presence of vehicles, controlling zone irrigation systemsbased upon sensed need, and controlling warehouse and undergroundparking lighting based upon the activity in each zone.

In Venues or places such as an airport, the smart plug sensor device 14Smay be plugged into a wall socket 48 so that it receives alternatingcurrent for operation, and a battery backup unit may be connected, toprovide emergency power, allowing the sensor device 14S to immediatelyreport if it has been unplugged or electrical power is off. It should benoted in FIG. 1 that the smart sensor device 14S (as well as othersensor devices 14) is suitably equipped and programmed to also functionas an intermediary router, thusly illustrated as receiving informationfrom sensor device 14B and relaying it to detector 20B. A sensor device14S may be equipped with a web cam so that the client, in addition toturning on and off various devices such as heaters, motion detectors,smoke detectors, and lights, can see the locations being controlled,such as, for example, providing a web cam (and/or motion sensor, and/ordoor open/close sensor, and/or voice recorder/speaker) at every entranceand exit of a property. The smart plug device 14S is suitably programmedwith the automatic ability to have it routed to another upstream sensordevice 14 if the multi-hop path from the smart plug device 14S to thedetector 20B is interrupted for some reason.

Sensor devices 14 for many threats are large and cumbersome to becarried around and otherwise be mobile or portable. Sometimes, it mayaccordingly be necessary or desirable that a sensor device 14 beportable, for example, so that it can be carried around by securityofficers or government or airport employees or military personnel orothers. For example, current pre-production gas chromatographs thatdetect 3 compounds simultaneously are of a size on the order of ashoebox while those detecting 10 compounds simultaneously are of a sizeon the order of a large suitcase. In accordance with the presentinvention, the overall size of gas chromatograph (“GC”) sensor devices(and other sensor devices 14) is reduced to on the order of the size ofa smartphone, or smaller, in order that they may be easily worn byHAZMAT early-responder personnel, firefighters, military personnel,airport employees, government employees, etc. or be installed on robots.The reduced size also offers the advantage of the capability of beinghidden better for surveillance purposes. While maintaining the smallsize, the number of critical conditions, gases, compounds, and rayswhich can be sensed/detected has increased from the conventional 3 to 10for a small size gas chromatograph sensor device to on the order of 100compounds or more simultaneously.

A portable sensor device in accordance with the present invention isillustrated at 14P in FIG. 1. In view of their being powered by batteryand/or solar power or other low power and due to landscape obstacles,the range between the portable sensor devices 14P and their associatedclosest detectors 20 may be limited to perhaps 500 to 1000 feet. Inorder to allow a portable sensor device 14P, which may be batterypowered, to be used over greater distances and for innovative newapplications requiring smaller size sensor devices and for trueportability and movement in small spaces, its communication with itsrespective: detector 20P is preferably via a 3G or 4G or similarcellular network or alternatively a WiFi network, illustrated at 36,wherein the information is transmitted to a transceiver 38, havingantenna 42, on the nearest WiFi or cellular tower 40 and thenre-transmitted to the associated detector 20P.

The sensor device 14P is provided to be portable so that it can becarried around in a vehicle and also provided with the ability to storedata, in accordance with principles commonly known to those of ordinaryskill in the art to which the present invention pertains, so that theclient may download the data from sensor devices 14 to detectors 20while driving in their vicinity and later download the data to the CMU26 in accordance with client needs, such as when the vehicle moveswithin range of a cellular network, WiFi network, or satellite networkor is connected to an SSL (secure sockets layer) broadband ethernetconnection.

To provide the desired portability or mobility, GC to a size withbattery and pre-concentrator of about 8″ times 8′ times 8″, or less, inaccordance with the present invention, portable sensor devices 14Pincluding those having gas chromatographs (and called MicroGCs) withpre-concentrators are made with miniaturized MEMS technology. Examplesof suitable small gas chromatographs and pre-concentrators made withMEMS technology for use as portable sensor modules 14P are found in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,838,640 and 6,914,220 and published application2004/0255643, which are incorporated herein by reference. Other patentsrelated to such gas chromatographs include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,281,256;5,288,310; 6,702,989; 6,764,652; 7,008,193; 7,438,851; and 7,615,189,all of which are also incorporated herein by reference. Other patentsrelative to modular or compact sensor modules or the like include U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,864,843; 5,340,543; 5,804,701 (col. 2 has discussion ofminiaturization efforts); 5,808,179; 5,918,194; 6,029,499 (CIP of U.S.Pat. No. 5,808,179); 6,632,268; 6,732,567; 6,834,531; 7,081,816;7,247,189; 7,366,624; 7,384,453; 7,506,533; 7,524,363; 7,600,413;7,654,130; and 7,743,641, published applications 2009/0139934;2009/0150087; 2009/0151426; 2009/0158815; 2010/0018287; 2010/0154511;and 2010/0248283, and Japanese patent document JP08184514, all of whichare also incorporated herein by reference.

Other gas chromatograph patents/published applications include U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,719,011 (variable geometry columns); 7,464,580; 7,647,812;7,742,880; 7,806,963, and published applications 2006/0163161,2007/0029241, 2007/0084982, 2007/0089603, 2007/0090034, 2007/0221557,2008/0121015, 2008/0164148, 2008/0202211, 2010/0083739, 2010/0187177,2011/0018545, 2011/0023976, 2011/0028669, 2011/0091986, and2011/0049030, all of which are also incorporated herein by reference.Suitable radiation detectors are disclosed in published applications2011/0155928, 2009/0114829, 2009/0101825; 2009/0001286; and2007/0235657, all of which are also incorporated herein by reference.

Suitable wireless sensor devices are, for example, the wireless sensorsmarketed by Digi International, Inc. of Minnetonka, Minn., and othersuitable sensor devices 14 and 15 are, for example, a line of smaller,more robust, and accurate sensors such as disclosed in the abovepatents/published applications and being considered for incorporationinto a network incorporating the present invention by Lundy Enterprisesof Toronto, Canada, Applicant being an officer of Lundy Enterprise.

Single purpose sensor devices for compounds such as sarin and the likeor other sensor devices may not remain accurate as temperature,humidity, barometric pressure, and the like increase or decrease overtime unless otherwise suitably adjusted therefor. In order to providesensor devices 14 and/or sub-sensor devices 15 with the ability to sensedirectly related data (data such as temperature, humidity, barometricpressure, and the like that have a direct bearing on the sensed value ofa critical condition such as presence of a chemical compound orradiation being sensed) and to utilize this sensed directly related datato adjust the sensed value of the critical condition, so as to providean adjusted sensed value of the critical condition which is moreaccurate than the unadjusted sensed value, a sensor device 14 and/or asub-sensor device 15, as desired to improve accuracy of sensed readings,is provided with an additional sensor 50 for the sensing of suchdirectly related data to supply to the microprocessor 12 or 13 alongwith the data from sensor 16 or 17 respectively so that the sensed valueof data (a critical condition) received from sensor 16 or 11respectively can be suitably adjusted by such directly related data. Forexample, as humidity increases, this allows the sensed concentrationvalue of a chemical compound (a critical condition) to be suitablyadjusted therefor.

A sensor device 14 or sub-sensor device 15 may be suitably equipped andprogrammed, in accordance with principles of common knowledge to thoseof ordinary skill in the aft to which the present invention pertains,with the well known conventional CTS (cellular triangulation system)and/or GPS (global positioning system) technology in a manner such thatan unauthorized movement of these sensor devices is immediatelycommunicated to the associated detector 20 and then to the centralmonitoring unit 26.

In air sampling applications, as an alternative to installing physicallydispersed sub-sensor devices 15 around their related sensor device 14,an air delivery sub-system may be installed in a Venue, to passcalibrated known volumes of air from various locations within the Venuethrough the sensor devices 14 and thereby to alternatively ensure thatthe air from the entire Venue is sampled, rather than just the air inthe particular physical location of each sensor device 14 for a detector20 in a Venue. When an air delivery sub-system is not installed, aspreviously discussed, sub-sensor devices 15 with low-cost sensors 17 areprovided to economically blanket a Venue with sensors, to increase theprobability of, for example, detecting sources of radiation (a ray, ofinterest, must strike a sensor or sub-sensor to have its magnitudedetermined). Likewise, there are many different sources of chemicalcontamination in a Venue (such as an airport), and the plurality ofsub-sensors 15 associated with a particular sensor 14 significantlyincreases the probability of detecting the presence of these sources ofchemical contamination and determining its magnitude and pinpointing itslocation for subsequent action by authorities.

As previously discussed, a detector unit 20 is desirably configured witha plurality of sensor devices 14 and preferably their associatedphysically dispersed sub-sensor devices 15. The sensors 16 and 17 arepreferably equipped with solid state CMOS (complementary metal-oxidesemiconductor) memory and/or another low power technology design thatfacilitates the use of long life rechargeable or replaceable batteries(with multi-year life) that can withstand and reliably operate in a widetemperature range and humidity range and harsh environments. In view ofsuch harsh environments, the electronic components therefor may bebuilt, for example, to similar specifications as those often used by theU.S. military for building electronic components to be used in harshenvironments, including being shock mounted and being sealed to preventmoisture penetration. Each sensor device 14 is suitably configured tointerface with and receive unique Venue information such as, but notlimited to, the unique code in an RFID (radio frequency identification)chip or other electronic Identifier technology, electronic anti-tamperseal status, door contact status, GPS coordinates, cellulartriangulation coordinates, sensor/sub-sensor device interactive status,temperature sensor, humidity sensor, liquid depth sensor and liquidpoint sensor, moment of inertia sensor, and incorporates replaceablesensor/sub-sensor devices, with or without electronic anti-tamper seal,to reliably detect a wide range of Threats, across a broad temperaturerange such as from about −20 to +120 degrees F. (preferably from about−50 to +185 degrees F. with accuracy of plus or minus 1 degree F. andresolution of 0.1 degree F.) and with non-condensing humidity up to 95%,that are in concentrations outside predetermined thresholds and/orcommanded thresholds over a predetermined and/or commanded period oftime and based on a predetermined and/or commanded time frequency.

The information gathered by each detector 20 is desirably encrypted andtransmitted to the central monitoring unit 26, such as over the internet28 using a secure SSL ethernet broadband connection, and/or by securecellular network (such as, for example, 3G or 4G or 5G), and/or bysecure satellite connection, wherein the information from the varioussensor and sub-sensor devices 14 and 15 respectively and relateddetectors 20 is pulled together and analyzed to look for sensed datathat is outside thresholds or is condition non-compliant or patternnon-compliant. Other means of communication between detectors 20 and thecentral monitoring unit 26 include, but are not limited to, low orbitsatellite system (LOSS), microwave systems (including WiMax or other),and Inmarsat systems. After validation by an “expert ruler-based system”(which is part of the programming running within the central monitoringunit 26 and is the programming used to decide whether to declare analert, as illustrated at 214 and discussed hereinafter), the sensedinformation that is found to be outside thresholds or non-compliant withexpected values or conditions, or information that a detector and/orsensor and/or sub-sensor fails to communicate, triggering a declarationof an alert, as illustrated at 214 and discussed hereinafter, may becategorized as either an Urgent Alert Notification or Alert Notificationand is immediately communicated to the client's responsible parties byemail or text message notification at their specified desktop, laptop,cellphone, smartphone or tablet destinations, as illustrated at 30A,and/or an appropriately verified voice call notification 30D is placedto responsible parties such as via a call center 30C or to the ClientComputer System 30E. Notwithstanding, if there are a plurality of Venuesat a particular location, such as containers on a ship or on anaircraft, an optional “Base Station” or the like may be used toconcentrate and multiplex all communications between the detectors 20and the central monitoring unit 26.

The central monitoring unit 26 is also programmed to transmitinformation (desirably encrypted) to the detectors 20 for controlthereof. The central monitoring unit (“CMU”) 26 may also interface withthe client system 30E (or optionally with others as may be desired) viaVPN or SSL (virtual private network or secure sockets layerrespectively) (both passing encrypted data over the internet), orequivalent internet, intranet, or non-internet leased line connectivity,to provide salient information and real-time notification alerts orother information (desirably encrypted). The client system 30E refersto, for example, the client's computer whereas the browser 30B may beany internet browser used for client validated human access to the CMU26. The client browser functionality (browser) 30B is programmed toallow anyone with system administrator credentials, and authenticationand authority, for the client, and browser internet connectivity, tosecurely access the central monitoring unit 26 to review and update theclient profile and detector, associated sensor and associated sub-sensorparameters, and review the current detector, sensor and sub-sensortransaction details, including those currently in normal, aware,potential alert, alert, or urgent alert state (discussed hereinafterwith respect to FIG. 3) (and the current state of any ongoing alertsituations) and their past history, and view sensor graphs to quicklyobtain a snapshot of current sensor performance and past performance,and alternately export the data to a formatted CSV (comma-separatedvalue) spreadsheet for analysis by the client.

Optionally, a special version of the central monitoring unit 26 (whichmay then be called a local monitoring unit) may be operated by acontractor for a client 30E who is a military unit or a governmentagency or a corporation that chooses to run all of its applicationsin-house.

Any of the sensor devices 14 and any of the detectors 20 may be suitablyprogrammed for transmission of information back and forth between aparticular sensor device 14 and a particular detector 20 as desired,including the optional dynamic inclusion of routers 23 and/or sensordevice/routers 14S in a multi-hop path, and the programming may bechanged at any time as desired for communication of a sensor device 14or router with a different detector 20, whereby the network 10 is amulti-hop wireless self-managed type that automatically coordinatessensor devices/routers with detectors, as new detectors are added orsensor devices/routers are added, deleted, or physically moved ortransferred between detectors. This functionality would desirably bemade available to the authorized client administrator.

Sensor devices 14 (as well as sub-sensor devices 15) may be radiationsensing devices. These devices are provided to detect Threats including,but not limited to, fissile material and/or gamma radiation and/orradiological dispersion devices and/or other radiation sources. Theradiation sensing device 14 may, but is not required to, usenanotechnology, nanowires, Geiger-Mueller tube detectors, photoniccrystal technology, solid state detectors, scintillation detectors andthe like, and MEMS or other technology to accurately detect theamplitude of radioactive rays as the radiation sensing devices (and anydispersed sub-sensing devices) are exposed to radiation sources across awide range of Venues, with the amplitude to be provided by the sensordevices 14 and decisions whether to declare an alert 214 determined asdiscussed previously with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The radiation sensing devices (and any sub-sensing devices) may use aspecific element and/or elements that will be exposed to fissilematerial and/or gamma radiation and/or radiological dispersion devicesand/or other radiation sources. The radiation sensing devices (and anysub-sensing devices) may have a refresh and regeneration capability sothat they need not be replaced during normal operation, although theymay potentially need to be replaced after the detection of a substantialradiation threshold exceedance, depending on the magnitude of theexposure.

Sensor devices 14 and 15 may be chemical sensing devices. These devicesare provided to detect Threats including, but not limited to, sarin gas(a nerve agent), chlorine (a choking agent), and hydrogen cyanide (ablood agent). These devices may, but are not required to, use gaschromatography (GC and microGC), GC/mass spectroscopy, ion mobilityspectroscopy, LIDAR, terahertz/mm wave, surface acoustic wave, and microsensor arrays, and MEMS or other suitable technology to accuratelydetect ranges of chemical agent Threats, and these devices may beexposed to dangerous chemical sources across a wide range, includingair, water, and food.

These chemical sensing devices 14 and 15 may use a specific elementand/or an array of elements that will be exposed to dangerous chemicalagents. The chemical sensing devices 14 and 15 may have a refresh andregeneration capability so that they need not be replaced during normaloperation, although they may potentially need to be replaced after thedetection of a substantial dangerous chemical agent thresholdexceedance.

Sensor devices 14 and 15 may be explosive sensing devices. They areprovided to detect ammonium nitrate, urea nitrate, potassium nitrate,acetone, calcium carbide, peroxide, blasting caps, and other explosivesagents or bomb components. These devices may, but are not required to,use gas chromatography (GC), GC/mass spectroscopy, ion mobilityspectroscopy, LIDAR, terahertz/mm wave, surface acoustic wave, microsensor arrays, and ionic liquid (IL) sensor technology, and MEMS orother suitable technology to accurately detect ranges of thecomponents-of-bombs, and these devices may be exposed to potentialexplosive compounds, vapors, agents, and liquids across a wide range,including in air, water, and food.

These explosives sensing devices 14 and 15 may use a specific elementand/or an array of elements that will be exposed to various potentialcomponents-of-bombs. The chemical sensing devices (and any sub-sensingdevices) may have a refresh and regeneration capability so that theyneed not be replaced during normal operation, although they maypotentially need to be replaced after the detection of a substantialthreshold exceedance of components-of-bombs, such as a large amount ofammonium nitrate.

Sensor devices 14 and 15 may be biological sensing devices. Thesedevices are provided to detect dangerous biological agents including,but not limited to, anthrax, cholera, sarin, and smallpox. Those devicesmay, but are not required to, use DNA microarrays, immune assay, LIDAR,terahertz/mm wave, standoff laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, andmicro sensor arrays, and MEMS or other suitable technology to accuratelydetect ranges of biological agent threats, and these devices may beexposed to dangerous biological sources across a wide range, includingin air, water, and food.

The biological sensing devices (and any sub-sensing devices) may use aspecific element and/or an array of elements that may be exposed tovarious dangerous biological agents. The biological sensing devices (andany sub-sensing devices) may have a refresh and regeneration capabilityso that they need not be replaced during normal operation, although theymay potentially need to be replaced after the detection of a substantialdangerous biological agent threshold exceedance.

A sensor device 14 or 15 may be a hazardous material (HAZMAT) andvolatile organic compound (VOC) sensing device. These devices areprovided to detect dangerous compounds and vapors, including thosespecified by the Department of Homeland Security, DOD, Dept. OfTransportation, EPA, and other government and private bodies, bothcurrent and on an on-going basis, in the United States and in othercountries throughout the world, including, but not limited to, vinylchloride, PCE, TCE, benzene, and hydrocarbons. These sensor devices may,but are not required to, use gas chromatography (GC and microGC),GC/mass spectroscopy (MS), and micro GC/MS, and MEMS or other suitabletechnology to accurately detect ranges of HAZMAT/VOC compounds and agentthreats, and these modules may be exposed to dangerous compounds andagents across a wide range, including in air, water, and food.

The HAZMAT/VOC sensor devices 14 and 15 may use a specific elementand/or an array of elements that may be exposed to various dangerousagents. The HAZMAT/VOC sensing devices (and any sub-sensing devices) mayhave a refresh and regeneration capability so that they need not bereplaced during normal operation, although they may potentially need tobe replaced after the detection of a substantial dangerous hazardousmaterial and/or volatile organic compound or vapor threshold exceedance.

A sensor device may be a food, air, water toxins, and disease(Toxin/Disease) sensing device 14 or 15. These devices and sub-sensingdevices are provided to detect and actively improve air, food, and watersafety, and include but are not limited to, bacterial pathogens,antibodies, patulin, mycotoxins, toxins (e.g., E. Coli on raw meat andlisteria on ready-to-eat meat), carcinogens, TB, cholera, and anthrax,and including, but not limited to, those specified by the Department ofHomeland Security, DOD, Dept. of Transportation, OSHA, EPA, World HealthOrganization, and other government and private bodies, both, current andon an on-going basis, both in the United States and in other countriesthroughout the world. These devices may, but are not required to, useimprinted conducting polymer, paramagnetic polystyrene beads, andnano-biosensors, and MEMS or other suitable technology to accuratelydetect toxins and disease threats, and these devices may be exposed tosuch dangerous agents and disease across a wide range, including in air,water, food, and people (including those in developing poor countriesthat are or may experience a TB, cholera, or smallpox resurgence).

The toxin/disease sensing devices (and any sub-sensing devices) may usea specific element and/or an array of elements that will be exposed tovarious dangerous bacterial pathogens, antibodies, patulin, mycotoxins,toxins, carcinogenics, and the like. The toxin/disease sensing devices(and any sub-sensing devices) may have a refresh and regenerationcapability so that they need not be replaced during normal operation,although they may potentially need to be replaced after the detection ofa substantial threshold exceedance.

A suite of sensor devices 14 and 15 may be deployed to identifyunexpected events and/or critical conditions. These devices may detectunexpected water consumption and/or escape, fuel demand, electricityconsumption, humidity, temperature, impact and/or inertia, andGPS-location or cellular triangulation non-compliance (e.g., in acondominium, transit agency, or trucking fleet). These devices may, butare not required to, use input from various flowmeters, electronichumidity sensors and thermometers, light sensors, water presence anddepth sensors, motion sensors, open/closed sensors,moment-of-impact/inertia sensors, GPS and Cellular Triangulation Systemtechnology, and MEMS or other suitable technology.

A sensor device 14 or 15 may be a residential, commercial, or industrialthreat sensing device. This device is provided to detect threatsincluding, but not limited to, fire, smoke, carbon monoxide, carbondioxide, home security, air/water/foodborne VOCs, and other compoundsidentified by the EPA, fire standards organizations, and othergovernmental protection agencies, both current and on an on-going basis,both in the United States and countries throughout the world. Thesedevices may, but are not required to, use nanotechnology, nanowires, andMEMS or other suitable technology and may use a heat process (which maybe patented) to increase the sensitivity and reliability of detecting awide range of potential environmental contaminates to. accurately detectthe exposure to such elements, compounds, and vapors across a widerange.

It should of course be understood that the present invention is notlimited to the specific threats discussed herein and can be used fordetection of other Threats now existing or Threats currently unknown butwhich may hereafter exist in the future.

The central monitoring unit 26 must verify and initialize each uniquelyidentified detector unit 20 for a client. When verified, the centralmonitoring unit 26 downloads the detectors' setup parameters and thosefor all uniquely identified sensor devices 14, portable sensor devices14P, and sub-sensor devices 15 that are allowed to be connected to theuniquely identified detector 20. In turn, as each sensor device 14checks in with the associated detector 20, their unique identity isverified, prior to initialization, illustrated at 202 and discussedhereinafter. When verified by the detector 20, the setup parameters,including check-in heartbeat parameters, for each related sensor device14 and any related sub-sensor device 15 are downloaded to each sensordevice 14 and subsequently by the sensor devices to the sub-sensordevices 15.

The mere inputting of threshold values as determined by a governmentagency or other clients and the sounding of a local alarm if there isnon-compliance with the threshold values (even for a number of sensordevices in an area) has historically meant that there are so many falsepositives that they make use of the system impractical. For example, asystem may be purchased for an army unit overseas and installed todetect radiation or the components of bombs. Yet the number of falsepositives may be so great, due to the background residual explosivematerial in the air, at certain times of the day or after certain eventshave occurred, that the military unit starts to ignore the system, totheir detriment when a real explosive threat occurs.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in order to reliably reduce false positiveswhile not introducing false negatives, i.e., take into account anomalieswhile also smoothing over time the data received into a running averagebaseline to which newly received data is compared, in accordance withthe present invention, the central monitoring unit 26 (in FIG. 1) issuitably programmed, using principles commonly known to those ofordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, tocarry out the method, illustrated generally at 200 in FIG. 3 and the useof the method 200 being illustrated by the hypothetical example of FIG.2, to determine whether an “alert” should be declared, as illustrated at214, or an “urgent alert” should be declared, as illustrated at 234.Such programming to carry out the method illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3can be suitably done by a programmer of ordinary skill having theknowledge of the present invention as contained herein.

FIG. 2 is a hypothetical example relative to temperatures, along theordinate 101, over time, along the abscissa 103, in a steel mill whereinlabor laws may require that the temperature be maintained at all timesno less than 32 degrees F. and no greater than 100 degrees F., thesebeing the minimum and maximum allowable values, illustrated at 105 and107 respectively. Thus, clearly, in this example, an alert should bedeclared if the temperature exceeds 100 degrees F. or drops below 32degrees F. Thus, whether or not the process/system illustrated in FIG. 3would otherwise result in the declaration 214 of an alert, the clientmay determine as part of initialization 202 that the process/system isto be over-rode, as illustrated at 216, and an urgent alert declared, asillustrated at 234, if a decision is made, as illustrated by decisionblock 222, that a maximum or minimum allowable value 107 (for example,100 degrees F.) or 105 (for example, 32 degrees F.) respectively isreached. For example, if there is a reading of 102 degrees F., asillustrated at 130, which is greater than the maximum, allowabletemperature 107 of 100 degrees F., the CMU may be programed/inputted aspart of the initialization 202 by the client, to declare an urgent alert224 even if the process/system 200 would not have otherwise declared analert. In other applications, there may be need for only a minimumallowable value 105 or a maximum allowable value 107. In manyapplications, there may be no need or desire by the client to haveeither a minimum or maximum allowable value (in which case the flowchart of FIG. 3 would not have decision block 222). For example, fornuclear or dangerous gases as well as many other of the hereinbeforediscussed threats for which the process/system 200 of the presentinvention is applicable, it would not normally be necessary to have aminimum or maximum allowable value, since when the level gets highenough, in accordance with the values inputted during initialization,the alert will be declared, as illustrated at 214.

While what is contained in decision block 222 in FIG. 3 is brief toaccommodate limited space, in order to be more clear, referring to FIG.2, being in potential alert state 240, which allows the declaration ofan alert 214, means being at a value which is either (1) greater thanthe upper threshold 112 value or the running average baseline 114 value(whichever is greater) plus the upper fluctuation buffer 108 value or(2) less than the lower threshold 110 value or running average baseline114 value (whichever is less) less the lower fluctuation buffer 106value.

It should of course be understood that it may be desirable to takeappropriate action before a minimum or maximum allowable value 105 or107 were reached since the mill would already be in violation of thelabor law if the alert were not declared until after the minimum ormaximum allowable value 105 or 107 were reached. In order to havesufficient time to take appropriate action before the minimum or maximumallowable value 105 or 107 is reached, lower and upper modifiedthreshold temperatures, illustrated at 102 and 104 respectively aresuitably selected, which allow time to declare an alert, as illustratedat 214, so that appropriate action can be taken before the temperaturereaches the minimum or maximum allowable value 105 or 107. Suitablyselected fluctuation buffer zones, illustrated at 106 and 108 for thelower and upper modified thresholds 102 or 104 are also established thatrelate directly to the lower and upper threshold values, illustrated at110 and 112 respectively, which may, for example, be 47 degrees F. and85 degrees F. respectively to provide 10 degree F. lower and upperfluctuation buffers 106 and 108 respectively, these being values whichmay not often occur during normal operation, although a blast of hot airmay cause the temperature to climb temporarily above 85 and even 95degrees F., thereby producing what may be called a false positive, ifnot for the intervention of the process of the present invention to keepan alert from being declared. It should of course be understood that thelower and upper fluctuation buffers 106 and 108 may be selected to havedifferent values (including that one can be different from the other).

In this example, the upper values 104, 107, and 112 will be primarilytreated, it being understood that the same principles and analysis andprocess would apply to the lower values 102, 105, and 110 respectively.

Illustrated at 114 is a running average baseline of temperatures for aparticular sensor 16 or sub-sensor 17 for a particular recurring periodof time such as, for example, a 24-hour period of time, since manycheck-in events may re-occur at the same time each day. For example, ablast of hot air, due to the temperature briefly spiking at about thesame time each day, may result in the running average baseline at aboutthat same time each day being briefly over the upper threshold value 112of 85 degrees F., i.e., showing in FIG. 2 a running average baselinetemperature at that time, as illustrated at 124, of 88 degrees F. Forexample, at that particular time on a particular day, the temperature is90 degrees F., as illustrated at 125, which is shown to be above therunning average baseline temperature 124 of 88 degrees F. There may, forexample, be a different running average baseline 114 for Saturday andanother for Sunday, particularly if there is less utilization of themill during those days, or there may be a different running averagebaseline 114 for each day of the week, as may be appropriate consideringhow the mill is utilized. Other time periods may alternatively apply asappropriate. The running average baseline 114 may, for example, beadjusted as the outside temperature changes.

As illustrated at 202, the client 30B, during initial setup andsubsequent updates, selects and enters the maximum, and minimumallowable values 107 and 105 respectively, if any, the upper and lowerthreshold values 112 and 110 respectively, and the upper and lowerfluctuation buffer threshold values 108 and 106 respectively along withsensor parameters into the central monitoring unit (CMU) 26, and selectsand enters an initial baseline value for the particular sensor(s) 16 forwhich the values are illustrated in FIG. 2. This may be done byindividual sensor or group of sensors, within sensor type, type of day,location, and/or time of day, as appropriate. This may be done, forexample, by inputs from the remote/local client browser 30B. Thesevalues, as appropriate, may be established by a government agency suchas the EPA, FDA, TSA or Department of Defense or otherwise suitably beprovided by the client system 30E or otherwise by the client 30 inaccordance with the client's needs. The upper and/or lower fluctuationbuffers 108 and 106 respectively in FIG. 2 will be selected, by theclient, to, for example, represent the expected variation in the sensingenvironment as well as published or otherwise accuracy specifications ofthe least accurate component in the sensor devices 14 or sub-sensordevices 15. The types of threats for which the present invention isusable are virtually endless and include any threat for which detectionthereof indicated by a rise (or fall) in a condition is desired, suchthreats including, but not limited to, chemical, biological,radiological-nuclear, explosives, volatile organic compounds,toxins/disease in air, food, or water, or critical conditions such asunexpected water flow, excessive fuel or electrical demand and humidity,water, temperature, impact, open/closed, motion, location, vibration,contact, and light presence, and the list can go on and on.

The sensor and sub-sensor devices 14 and 15 are suitably calibratedduring set-up and as otherwise required, i.e., determining and inputtingwhat temperature equates to a certain current value for a particularsensor device or sub-sensor device.

In the present example, it is over the course of a day for a singletemperature sensor, and the fluctuation buffer values are constant overthe time period, although it should be understood that these valuescould be inputted in accordance with the present invention to vary overthe time period. The client initially may form an estimate of what thebaseline 114 should be, based on whatever data the client has. If theclient has no previous data to go on, the client may, for example, entera baseline of, for example, 70 degrees F. over the entire day, based onguess or even arbitrarily. An updated baseline as well as updatedmodified threshold values more closely reflecting the real baseline maybe entered by the client 30B sifter some experience with what the datashows the temperatures are over the course of a day or other selectedtime interval, or the client may allow the CMU 26 (suitably programmedtherefor) to develop these over time based on real data. Artificialintelligence software in the central monitoring unit 26 may be used toaid in developing these threshold values in conjunction with the runningaverage baseline values.

During operation, the sensor device microprocessors 12 and sub-sensordevice microprocessors 13 are programmed, in accordance with principlesof common knowledge to those of ordinary skill in the art to which thepresent invention pertains, to receive values (sensor values) of theenvironmental threat being monitored by the respective sensor devices 14(and their respective associated sub-sensor devices 15) and to determineand report, on a sensor-based check-in time line, to their respectivedetector unit 20, which relays the information to the central monitoringunit 26, all sensor values that fall within the allowable range, i.e.,in the example of FIG. 2, between 102 and 104, using a normal sensorcheck-in timing (for example, readings in 5-minute intervals) anddeclaring, for example, a “green” low risk level (normal state 207),while sensor values that do not fall within that range are reportedUsing an immediate check-in timing and declaring a “yellow” significantrisk level (aware state 209), as illustrated by decision block 205. TheCMU 26 operates and makes decisions, as illustrated at 203, inaccordance with the block diagram 200, as discussed hereinafter.

If the CMU is programmed/ inputted with a maximum allowable sensor value107, which in the example of FIG. 2 is 100 degrees F. (or similarly witha minimum allowable sensor value 105 of 32 degrees F.), and withinstructions to over-ride any decision to declare an aware state and toinstead immediately declare an urgent alert 234, then a decision,illustrated at 222, in such an event would be made to override thedeclaration of an aware state, as illustrated at 216, and to insteaddeclare an urgent alert 234. Thus, an urgent alert 234 would be declaredat the temperature at 130 of, for example, 102 degrees F. even if thebaseline temperature for that time were, for example, 94 degrees F. Ofcourse, if the CMU were not so programmed, then the flow chart of FIG. 3would not contain the decision block 222 or the decision 216 tooverride.

If there is no decision block 222 or if the decision is not to overridewhen a sensor value is received that is outside the modified thresholdrange 102 to 104, the central monitoring unit 26 assesses whether thereare other sensor devices 14 (and/or their sub-sensor devices 15) thathave also reported sensor values that are outside the modified thresholdrange 102 to 104 and are located in the same physical area (by means ofthe programming of the central monitoring unit 26), as illustrated at205, to determine whether a potential alert state, illustrated at 206,should be declared for a single sensor or sub-sensor or an area orVenue. The potential alert state may, for example, be classified as an“orange” high risk level or a “red” severe risk level (urgent potentialalert state) depending on criteria developed by the client andprogrammed into the CMU 26. The microprocessors 12 and 13 are suitablyprogrammed, in accordance with principles of common knowledge to thoseof ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, tosend information to the applicable detector units 20 when the normal oraware heartbeat check-in timing, specified by the central monitoringunit 26, occurs or an inter-heartbeat assessment detects a sensor valuethat is outside the modified threshold range. However, as discussedhereinafter, the mere receipt of sensor values that are outside themodified threshold range, from various sensor devices 14 or sub-sensordevices 15 in an area or Venue, will not necessarily, in accordance withthe present invention, cause a sensor or area alert 214 to be declared,as described hereinafter.

As illustrated at 204, after the initial setup and during normaloperation, the CMU 26 receives from the detectors 20 the sensor readingsand calculates and keeps the running average baseline 114, startingafter initial setup (or subsequently inputted update) with the initiallyinputted or subsequently updated baseline, for each thresholdsensor/sub-sensor (including each compound for a gas chromatographsensor or each type of reading for a sensor providing more than one typeof sensed condition) or group of threshold sensors/sub-sensors (ifappropriate) over the time period (the calculation including all sensorreadings).

Threshold sensor/sub-sensor devices 14A, 14B, 14P, and 15 are hereindifferentiated from condition sensor devices 14S which sense conditionor on-off type information such as whether or not a door is open orclosed or whether or not a motion sensor shows movement or whether ornot an electrical circuit is enabled, with one of the two conditionsbeing the normal or compliant state. As illustrated by decision block235, before threshold sensor/sub-sensor information or values areinputted to the running average baseline 114, the CMU is programmed todetermine whether the device under consideration is a condition sensoror a threshold sensor, as illustrated by decision block 235. If thedevice is not a condition sensor (in which case it is a thresholdsensor/sub-sensor), the sensed reading is inputted to the runningaverage 114. However, if the device is a condition sensor device 14S,then a decision is made, as illustrated by decision block 211, whethercondition sensor 14S shows an alert condition (such as an electriccircuit being enabled when it should not). If the condition sensor 14Sdoes not show an alert condition, then a normal state is declared, asillustrated at 236. However, if the condition sensor 14S does show analert condition, then a decision is made, as illustrated by decisionblock 213, whether an alert should be declared. The programming for thedecision 213 utilizes a rules based process, i.e., a client-specifiednumber of consecutive condition sensor readings indicating a potentialalert 213 or other suitable client-specified criteria such as, forexample, a counter such as of a specified number of non-compliantcycles/readings indicating a potential alert 213 for the particularcondition sensor (as specified by the client) to determine whether thealert state 214 should be declared, as illustrated at 217. Thus, forsubsequent cycles except the last one, a continued aware state isdeclared, as illustrated at 238, if the condition sensor reading againshows non-compliance. If an aware state is again declared on the last ofthe specified counter cycles for the particular condition sensor, thenan alert 214 is declared. However, during any of these cycles, if anaware state is not declared, then the normal state 236 is declared. Asubsequent cycle (i.e., resuming of sensing) would start after a periodof time normally called a “re-arm time” (for example, 30 seconds), asspecified by the client, who would also specify the number of awarestate cycles for the particular condition sensor device before an alertis declared.

With respect to a sensor device which has been determined in decisionblock 235 to be a threshold sensor device, it is considered desirablethat the running average baseline 114 take into account anomalies (suchas an unexpected blast of really hot air) but with smoothing so thatsuch anomalies do not cause an undue dynamic movement of the baseline.So as to provide the desired smoothing, such a running average baseline114 is preferably calculated using what is known as large numbernumerology, which is defined, for purposes of this specification and theclaims, as use of a large number (such as, for example, 100 for thetemperature range in the example of FIG. 2) as a factor to adjust therunning average baseline by only a small increment even though thesensor reading (blast of hot air) may be very large (anomaly). However,over a long period, the running average baseline will normally reflectthe true sensor readings over the time period. If, for example, therunning average baseline 114 shows a temperature of 70 degrees F. at aparticular time and the actual sensor temperature at that particulartime on a specific day is 75 degrees F., the new calculated runningaverage baseline would not show a temperature of at or near 75 degreesF. for that particular time but would show a temperature closer to 70degrees F. The new running average baseline may be calculated, using thelarge number numerology, using the following formula:

R=(NA−A+B)/N

where R is the new or re-calculated running average baseline, N is thelarge number (such as, for example, 100 or other large number whichprovides the desired smoothing, the greater the number, the moresmoothing there will be), A is the value of the sensor reading in therunning average baseline before the re-calculation, and B is the newsensor reading. If, as above, the sensor temperature in the runningaverage baseline is 70 degrees F. and the new sensor temperature is 75degrees F., and the client has selected a smoothing large number of 100,then the new or re-calculated value R in the running average baselinewould be (100(70)−70+75)/100 or 70.05 degrees F. However, a s discussedabove, if the temperature sensor reading shows a temperature of 75degrees F. consistently every day for the particular time, the runningaverage baseline 114 would gradually over time reflect that value or avalue close to that value, but without the undesired dynamicfluctuations otherwise caused by anomalies. Thus, the running averagebaseline 114 for each sensor will seek or be moved, at each of multipletime points per hour, in the direction of the predominant sensed values,over time, at the respective time point, by day, type of day,time-of-day, or as otherwise appropriate, so that they will continue tobe a stronger and stronger projector of the value that should bereceived from the respective sensor at the respective point in time.

Illustrated at 120 is a temperature sensor reading of 97 degrees F.,which is over the upper modified threshold value 104 of 95 degrees F. Asillustrated at 205, the CMC is programmed so that for each thresholdsensor reading a decision is made whether to initiate an aware state,and if the sensor reading is below the upper modified threshold 104 (andof course above any lower modified threshold 102), the decision is todeclare a normal state, as illustrated at 207. However, a thresholdsensor reading greater than the upper modified threshold value 104causes the CMU to place the particular threshold sensor device in whatis called an aware state 209. This triggers (via decision block 205 ifthere is such a decision block) the decision block 206 (unless, aspreviously discussed, there is a decision 216 to override, asillustrated by decision block 222) wherein the CMU is programmed todecide whether the particular threshold sensor should remain in an awarestate, illustrated at 208, or whether a potential alert state should bedeclared, illustrated at 206, which decision is made by a rules-basedprocess. A “rules-based process” for either a condition sensor or athreshold sensor is defined, for the purposes of this specification andthe claims, as a rule based on a client-specified number of consecutivesensor readings or other suitable client-specified criteria fordetermining when a potential alert state should be declared, asillustrated at 213 or 206 respectively. For example, the client mayspecify, in what may be called an “aware to alert state counter” in theCMU, for each sensor device, that a potential alert should be declaredif the number of consecutive aware state readings received from aparticular sensor device is, for example, 3 or more. If there have been2 consecutive aware state readings received from the sensor device, theCMU would compare this number (2) to the number (3) called for by theaware to alert state counter for the declaration of a potential alert,thus determining that a potential alert should not be declared and thatthe particular sensor should be instead declared as being in thecontinued aware state. Otherwise, for example, if there have been 3consecutive aware state readings, which is equal to or more than thenumber (3) called for by the aware to alert state counter for thedeclaration of a potential alert, the decision 206 is made to declare apotential alert. For a condition sensor, this decision would result inthe declaration of an alert 214. However, for a threshold sensor, thisdecision will then be used to support a decision, made in the decisionblock 210, to declare an alert state, illustrated at 214, if such adecision is made as discussed hereinafter. Otherwise, the thresholdsensor remains in a continued aware state, as illustrated at 212. Whenthe rules-based process 206 or the decision block process 210 does notresult in the declaration of an alert 214, the cycle of CMU operation203 will result in a continued aware state declaration 208 or 212.

If the system 200 were set up so that the decision to declare an alertresulted from the above rules-based potential alert decision withoutfurther checking, as is generally in accordance with the prior art, itmay undesirably result in too many false positives. In accordance withthe present invention, many such false positives may be removed bymaking the decision called for by decision block 210 and discussedhereinafter, which may desirably result, if it is a false positive, in acontinued aware state declaration, as illustrated at 212.

Referring to decision block 210, when a potential alert has beendeclared, a decision may be made not to declare an alert state whenreal-time sensor data values, for example, the temperature at 120 of 97degrees F., is above the 95 degrees F. upper modified threshold 104 (orbelow the lower modified threshold 102), even though this data valueappears to be in alert state. The making of such a decision 210 will nowbe described. In order to reduce false positives, when the runningaverage baseline 114 shows the sensor readings (88 degrees F. at thetime shown at 124) for the respective particular time to normally begreater than the upper threshold value 112, for the purposes ofdeciding, as illustrated at 210, whether a potential alert should bedeclared as an alert 214, the upper threshold 112 may be said to betemporarily increased, as illustrated at 122, so that the baselinebuffer zone, illustrated at 132, is equal to the upper fluctuationbuffer 108 so that false positives may be reduced. Thus, in what may becalled an expert system, the buffer above the running average baseline114 is temporarily increased to the span or amount of the expandedtemporary upper threshold 122, which in the example is a buffer 132 of10 degrees F. Thus, if the running average baseline temperature at time124 is 88 degrees F., then the buffer is expanded to the expandedtemporary upper threshold 122 so that an alert may not be declared untilthe temperature for that time exceeds 98 degrees F., such as illustratedat 128, i.e., a temperature of 99 degrees F. If the sensed value, suchas at 128, does not fall within the temporarily expanded fluctuationbuffer 132, the alert notification or declaration 214 proceeds, since itis considered that the associated false positive risk and false negativerisk have then been satisfactorily mitigated. Of course, when therunning average baseline 114 drops below upper buffer threshold 112,then the expanded temporary upper threshold 122 no longer applieswhereby, in the example, a temperature over the 95 degrees F. uppermodified threshold 104 would be a cause for declaring an alert 214.

When a sensor has been declared in an alert state 214, the client mayconsider the alert or normal states of other threshold-basedsensors/sub-sensors in the Venue (many of which may be redundant) aspart of its decision-making process on what action to be taken in viewof the alert.

Return to normal state 207 after an aware or alert state occurs during asubsequent cycle when the sensor reading is within the normal thresholdrange, with the decision block 205 resulting in a normal statedeclaration 207. It should be noted that, for the threshold-basedsensors, the fluctuation buffers play no role in returning the sensor tothe normal state 207, although the running average baseline, if present,does. Once the normal state is declared, the fluctuation buffers areonce more in play.

In addition to the sensed data received from the plurality of detectors20 (and any optional intermediary Base Stations), on an exception basis,the central monitoring unit 26 is configured/programmed, as discussedhereinafter with respect to decision blocks 224 and 226, in accordancewith principles of common knowledge to those of ordinary skill in theart to which the present invention pertains, to receive sensor data fromthe plurality of detectors 20 (and any optional intermediary BaseStations), on a predetermined check-in time schedule and/or a timeschedule as required by the Department of Homeland Security, EPA, DOD,OSHA, the client 30, or others as appropriate, to ensure that alldetectors 20 (and any optional intermediary Base Stations) and theirrelated sensor devices 14 (and any sub-sensor devices 15) have not beencompromised, are active and able to detect threats, and that they arereceiving complementary real-time data from all data points for theirVenue. Otherwise, a failure of a detector 20 (or an optionalintermediary Base Station) to respond to an expected event in a timelyfashion will result in the central monitoring unit 26 communicating suchinformation to the client's identified recipients 30A and/or 30C and/or30D and optionally to their computer system 30E, over a secure virtualprivate network or secure SSL internet connection or the like, andkeeping an ultra-secure, geographically dispersed, data log of thedeficiency and confirming that a particular alert notificationidentified Venue (and/or a location within the Venue) is to bequarantined and inspected and the environmental threat is to be resolvedand/or communication problem(s) between the Central monitoring unit 26and detectors 20 (and/or any optional intermediary Base Stations) andtheir sensor devices 14 (and any sub-sensor devices 15) are to beaddressed, and resolved.

Accordingly, the CMU operation 203 may also include, in sequence,determining whether a detector or a sensor (including both threshold andcondition sensors) is not communicating, i.e., not checking in (forexample, loss of battery or electrical power or stolen or ceasedworking, etc.), as illustrated by decision blocks 224 and 226respectively. If the decision is “no” for each decision block 224 and226, then an alert is not declared, as illustrated at 230. However, ifone of the decision blocks 224 or 226 results in a “yes” decision (i.e.,a detector or sensor device is not communicating), then an urgent alertis declared for the particular device, as illustrated at 232. There mayof course be other decision blocks for other conditions resulting in theurgent (or other) alert declaration 232. The block diagram 200 could ofcourse be differently constructed for determining whether or not todeclare an alert 232 or 234. For example, each of the decision blocks224 and 226 and any others may be placed directly under the CMUoperating block 203 so that the decisions 224 and 226 and any others maybe made in parallel rather than sequentially. For another example, theCMU 26 may be suitably programmed to check other conditions if an urgentalert 232 is declared. Such programming can be done by one of ordinaryskill in the art to which the present invention pertains, usingprinciples commonly known to one of ordinary skill in the art to whichthe present invention pertains.

When an area or individual sensor device alert notification is declared214 within a Venue, the non-compliant threshold or condition sensordevice value is desirably communicated immediately to the recipients 30Aand/or 30C and/or 30D, as identified by the client, by the centralmonitoring unit 26, and also desirably to the client's computer system30E. Urgent alerts 232 may be similarly transmitted that immediatelyidentify, for example, detector units' non-communication, loss ofelectric power, loss of battery backup power, sensor device and/orsub-sensor device non-communication, low battery indicators, and lowwireless signal strength indicators.

The central monitoring unit 26 is configured/programmed, in accordancewith principles of common knowledge to those of ordinary skill in theart to which the present invention pertains, to receive data fromseveral other sources including, as applicable and not limited to, theVenue content manifest and/or history from the client's computer system30E, unique codes in RFID tags and/or other electronic identifiers, dateand time stamped GPS co-ordinates, electronic thermometer, door status,and origination(s) of the Venue's contents so that, in real time, thecentral monitoring unit 26 can determine, from a profiling and othersuitable perspectives, the Venues that have a greater likelihood ofcontaining Threats, that are synonymous with an increased level of“risk” and requiring greater scrutiny than the normal Venue, which canthen be targeted for special attention. The central monitoring unit 26would desirably continue to monitor the Threats and provide Threatalerts 214, 232, and 234 on the schedule specified by the client(interval and duration) for the specific Venue until advised by theclient's computer system 30E or otherwise by the client browserfunctionality that the Venue containing the Threat has been takenoff-line for threat management, at which time appropriate messages maybe sent to, for example, the Department of Homeland Security and othersecurity and threat management agencies for their information and actionas appropriate.

In addition to the data received from the plurality of detectors 20 (andany optional intermediary Base Stations), the central monitoring unit 26is configured/programmed, in accordance with principles of commonknowledge to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the presentinvention pertains, to receive data from the client's computer system30E comprising additional data other than the data received from thedetectors 20 and any optional intermediary Base Stations, such as, forexample, Venue unique identification, shipper/shipper history andcountry/countries of origin and the shipping route/transitcountry/freight forwarder/consignee/owner of Contents and destinationlog and a report of any field investigations and a manifest (all if aninspection building that can contain several shipping containers orother large objects that are subjected to sensor devices to acceleratethe inspection process or other applicable controlled inspection area)plus GPS coordinate transit history, history of Venue scanning, doorstatus history, history of Venue weight and any incidents, and toasynchronously analyze this data in conjunction with the data receivedfrom the detectors 20 (and any intermediary Base Stations) to detectThreats in particular Venues, and, after such analysis has beencompleted in conjunction with considering the historic natural and/orartificially occurring and running average baseline data at the variousspecific locations within a Venue, by day, time of day, and type of day,should it be determined that the current sensor values are non-compliantwith the normal state threshold range (102 to 104 in FIG. 2), a positivethreat alert may be declared by the central monitoring unit, for thelocation(s) and/or area within the Venue, and if may be transmittedimmediately to the client's identified recipients 30A and/or 30C and/or30D and the clients' computer system 30E using, for example, a securebroadband Ethernet connection, cellular network, wireless computernetwork, WiFi system, or satellite link. The central monitoring unit 26will reconfirm the threshold range or condition non-compliance when aThreat has been detected within a Venue, then mitigate the probabilityof a “false positive” and may increase the check-in heartbeat regularity(from, for example, 5-minute intervals to 1-minute intervals or evenless) of the Venues' detectors 20 and sensors 16 and sub-sensors 17 asrequired to eliminate such occurrence, by utilizing the defectioninformation received from the detectors 20 (and any optionalintermediary Base Stations). When the information is confirmed by thecentral monitoring unit 26 and an alert 214 is declared (or an urgentalert 232 or 234 is declared), it will communicate such alertdeclaration 214 or urgent alert declaration 232 or 234 to the client'sidentified recipients 30A and/or 30C and/or 30D, and their computersystem 30E over, for example, a secure virtual private network or secureinternet connection and provide the information received from variousdetectors 20 (via their related sensor devices/sub-sensor devices 14 and15) including the GPS coordinates, cellular triangulation coordinatesand other data points used to determine the non-compliance, asapplicable, while keeping, for example, an ultra-secure log of the Venueand the Threat non-compliance event(s) in a secondary geographicallydispersed location, and the central monitoring unit 26 may be programmedto advise the client computer system 30E to quarantine and inspect theidentified non-compliant Venue(s) and resolve the Threat non-complianceevent or other non-compliance in their Venue(s).

The following manual methods may be used for switching the transmissionsof sensor data from one detector unit/gateway to another (such as, forexample, switching the communications from sensor device 14A fromdetector unit 20A, as shown in FIG. 1, to another detector unit such as20B) when one (such as detector unit 20A) has failed or been moved orfor another reason. If a detector unit on a particular frequency (i.e.,such as detector unit 20A on PAN=0x000000000000AAAA) has not failed, allor some of the sensor devices (as required by the client, at any time,for example, sensor device 14A) can be manually switched to anotherdetector unit on another particular frequency (i.e., such as detectorunit 20B on PAN=0x000000000000BBBB) using a secure administrationfunction that resides upstream from the detector units (on the CMU 26and accessed by user browser functionality or other suitable means). Ifa detector unit on a particular frequency (i.e., such as detector unit20A on PAN=0x000000000000AAAA) has failed (which is considered rare inview of a 7-year life while in operation all the time) or has beenmoved, for example, to another distant user division, a spare or newdetector unit may be deployed and set to the particular frequency of thedetector unit/gateway being replaced (i.e., a replacement detector uniton PAN=0x000000000000AAAA for detector unit 20A), the CMU updates thenew detector unit/gateway with its allowed sensors and their parameters,the sensors on that replacement detector unit/gateway will be allowed tojoin the network, and the coordinator software running on thereplacement detector unit/gateway is suitably programmed, in accordancewith principles commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art towhich the present invention pertains, to organize the optimized pathsthrough the network, and these steps are manually taken.

In order to provide a more desirable automatic, non-manual, dynamic,fail-over/move-over process for moving all of the sensors (i.e., such assensor device 14A on PAN=0x000000000000AAAA), such as those for a failedor moved detector unit (i.e., such as detector unit 20A onPAN=0x000000000000AAAA), to an alternate network detector unit (i.e.,such as detector unit 20B on PAN=0x000000000000BBBB), the CMU, as wellas detector units and sensor devices as necessary, is suitablyprogrammed, in a manner that can be done by one of ordinary skill in theart to which the present invention pertains, having the knowledgecontained within the present application and in accordance withprinciples commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art to whichthe present invention pertains, to authorize the respective sensorswithin the alternate detector unit and on the particular alternatenetwork path, with the alternate detector unit's coordinator (software)incorporating the respective sensors into the optimized paths.

If desired, the system 200 may be set up to allow the user to selectbetween using the running average baseline 204 (line 241) and usingthresholds 112 and/or 110 and modified thresholds 104 and/or 102, i.e.,without a running average baseline 204 (line 239) for determining anaware state 205 and 211 respectively, as illustrated at 237. A problemwith sensing devices is that they could bounce alternately above andbelow a threshold temperature or other value thereby .alternately goingin and out of an aware state. In order to resolve this problem, someconventional sensing devices may be set to stay an aware state once theyare in an aware state, and neither is this a good solution. With theline 239 selection, there is still an upper modified threshold 104 atwhich temperature or sensed point an aware state is declared, as at 211.That aware state 211 remains until the temperature or other pointreaches the upper threshold 112 at which point the sensing device isre-set to a normal state 236, thereby allowing smoothing of theaware/normal state, which is controlled by the amount of the buffer 108.The same may of course also be said for the lower threshold 110 andlower modified threshold 102.

The programming required for the system 10 and illustrated in FIG. 3 canbe done by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presentinvention pertains, using principles commonly known to one of ordinaryskill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the upper modifiedthreshold values 104 are set as high as desired by the client to guardagainst false negatives by selecting upper fluctuation buffers 108 toachieve that goal while the CMC 26 deploys the expanded temporary upperthreshold 122 to adequately mitigate the probability of false positives,whereby to provide a more reliable system: in which the client can havegreater confidence.

It should be understood that, while the present invention has beendescribed in detail herein, the invention can be embodied otherwisewithout departing from the principles thereof, and such otherembodiments are meant to come within the scope of the present inventionas defined by the claims.

1. A data sensing and environmental threat detecting network detectingand reporting environmental threats within a venue, the networkcomprising a plurality of wireless detector units each having atransmitter and a receiver for respectively transmitting and receivingenvironmental data and location coordinates and data rate of changeinformation within the venue and each having a data processor, thenetwork further comprising a plurality of wireless sensor devices eachhaving a transmitter and a receiver for respectively transmitting andreceiving environmental data and location coordinates and data rate ofchange information within the venue and each having a data processor,said detector units and said sensor devices being connected to Internetof Things (“IoT”) mesh multi-hop, ZigBee, Z-Wave or IPV6 and otherrelated networks based upon 6LoWPAN or WiFi or cellular networkarrangement whereby said detector unit data processors and said sensordevice data processors have programming which allows communicationalternately to and from more than one of others of said detector unitsand said sensor devices in a manner such that transmission of data ironssaid sensor devices to said detector units and communication from saiddetector units to said sensor devices may be effected over alternatewireless paths whereby the transmission of data from said sensor devicesto said detector units and communication from said detector units tosaid sensor devices may be effected using optimized wireless paths, thenetwork further comprising means for blanketing substantially all ofphysical space in the venue with low-cost devices for sensingenvironmental and location coordinates data in a quantity of saidlow-cost, devices so that substantially all of physical space in thevenue can be sampled inexpensively, said means for blanketing comprisinga plurality of environmental and location coordinates data sub-sensordevices equipped with low power, low cost wireless communicationstechnology such as Bluetooth or Z-Wave (for smart homes) and each havinga transmitter and a receiver for respectively transmitting and receivinginformation and each having a processor whereby the distance over whichsaid sub-sensor devices are equipped to wirelessly transmit data islimited by the low power wireless communications technology thereof,said sub-sensor programmed for communication with an associated one ofsaid sensor devices which is sufficiently nearby to receive datatransmitted from said respective low power wireless communicationstechnology sub-sensor device, and wherein said sensor devices areequipped to communicate with said detector units and with others of saidsensor devices over distances which are greater than the limiteddistance over which said sub-sensor devices are equipped to communicate,the network further comprising a central monitoring unit either locatedremote (including in a cloud/server farm) or locally, which isprogrammed to communicate to and from said detector units, using securecellular, satellite, internet broadband or intranet networks formanagement of routing of transmissions of environmental and locationcoordinates data between said sensor devices and said detector unitsover optimized paths and for comparing the environmental and locationcoordinates data received from said sensor devices and said sub-sensordevices within the venue to determine whether an environmental threatexists within the venue, wherein said detector units are equipped toreceive and process sensed and location coordinates information fromsaid sensor devices and transmit the processed sensed and locationcoordinates information to said central monitoring unit, and Wherein thenetwork has first programming to provide a plurality of running averagebaselines of at least one sensed value of at least one of said sensorand sub-sensor devices, and second programming to declare a potentialalert when a sensed value of said at least one of said sensor andsub-sensor devices is at a value which is either (1) greater than acorresponding predetermined upper threshold value or a correspondingrunning average baseline value (whichever is greater) plus acorresponding predetermined upper fluctuation buffer value, or (2) lessthan a corresponding predetermined lower threshold value or acorresponding running average baseline value (whichever is less) less acorresponding predetermined lower fluctuation buffer value, and thirdprogramming to declare an alert when a sensed value of said sensor orsub-sensor devices, relative to its prior sensed value, is at adifferential value greater than its allowed corresponding predeterminedupper rate of change threshold over a predetermined period of time, orpro-rated portion thereof, or is at a differential value less than itsallowed corresponding predetermined lower rate of change threshold overa predetermined period of time, or pro-rated portion thereof, and fourthprogramming to declare an alert when the location coordinates of a saiddetector unit or said sensor device or said sub-sensor device is at adifferential value which is greater than the allowed correspondingpredetermined Global Positioning System (GPS) or Cellular TriangulationSystem (CTS) differential threshold, and fifth programming after analert has been declared, subsequent to the completion of a rules-basedassessment process, to enable a wireless sensor device to powerrelational devices, consisting of any or all of the following,water/liquid pumps, security beacons, video surveillance systems, audiosurveillance systems, lighting systems and audio response systems, andconfirm that the relational device(s) has/have been enabled.
 2. Thenetwork according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said sensor devicesand sub-sensor devices is modular and may be mobile.
 3. The networkaccording to claim 1 wherein the network has programming for comparingvalues of said sensor devices and sab-sensor devices with predeterminedthreshold values in a manner to minimize false positive values of saidsensor and sub-sensor devices while minimizing introduction of falsenegative values of said sensor devices and sub-sensor devices indeciding whether an alert should be declared.
 4. The network accordingto claim 1 wherein the network has sixth programming to determine todeclare an urgent alert when a sensed sensor value is non-compliant withthe pre-determined maximum or minimum allowable sensed for wirelesssensor or sub-sensor devices.
 5. The network according to claim 1wherein the network has programming to declare an urgent alert when oneof said wireless detector units fails to communicate with said centralmonitoring unit within a predetermined time period or when one of saidwireless sensor devices fails to communicate with said respectivewireless detector unit within a predetermined time period or when one ofsaid wireless sub-sensor devices foils to communicate with saidrespective wireless sensor device within a predetermined time period orwhen one of said wireless detector units fails to communicate itslocation coordinates to said central monitoring unit within apredetermined time period or when one of said wireless sensor devicesfails to communicate its location coordinates to said respectivewireless detector unit within a predetermined time period or when one ofsaid wireless sub-sensor devices fails to communicate its locationcoordinates to said respective wireless sensor device within apredetermined time period.
 6. A data sensing and environmental threatdetecting network for detecting and reporting environmental threatswithin a venue, the network comprising a plurality of wireless detectorunits each having a transmitter and a receiver for respectivelytransmitting and receiving environmental data information within thevenue and each having a data processor, the network further comprising aplurality of sensor devices including at least one portable or mobilesensor device each of which sensor devices having a transmitter and areceiver for respectively transmitting and receiving environmental datainformation within the venue and each of which sensor devices having adata processor, said detector units and said sensor devices beingconnected to Internet of Things (“IoT”) mesh multi-hop, ZigBee, IPV6,WiFi or Cellular network arrangements whereby said detector unit dataprocessors and said sensor device data processors have programming whichallows communication alternately to and from more than one of others ofsaid detector units and said sensor devices in a manner such thattransmission of data from said sensor devices to said detector units andcommunication from said detector units to said sensor devices may beeffected over alternate wireless paths whereby the transmission of datafrom said sensor devices to said detector units and communication fromsaid detector units to said sensor devices may be effected usingoptimized wireless paths, the network further comprising means forblanketing substantially all of physical space in the venue withlow-cost, low power, low energy usage sub-sensor devices for sensingenvironmental data in a quantity of said low-power, low-cost devices sothat substantially all of physical space in the venue can be sampledinexpensively, said means for blanketing comprising a plurality ofenvironmental data sub-sensor devices equipped with low-power wirelesscommunications technology and each having a transmitter and a receiverfor respectively transmitting and receiving information and each havinga processor whereby the distance over which said sub-sensor devices areequipped to wirelessly transmit data is limited by the tow powerwireless communications technology and low energy usage thereof saidsub-sensor processor programmed for communication with an associated oneof said sensor devices which is sufficiently nearby to wirelesslyreceive data transmitted from said respective low power wirelesscommunications technology sub-sensor device, and wherein said sensordevices are equipped to communicate with said detector units and withothers of said sensor devices over distances which are greater than thelimited distance over which said sub-sensor devices are equipped tocommunicate, the network further comprising a central monitoring unitwhich is programmed to communicate to and from said detector units formanagement of routing of transmissions of environmental data betweensaid sensor devices and said detector units over optimized paths and forcomparing the environmental, location coordinate and sensor rate ofchange data received from said sensor devices and said sub-sensordevices within the venue to determine whether an environmental threatexists within the venue, wherein said detector units are equipped toreceive and process sensed information from said sensor devices andtransmit the processed sensed information to said central monitoringunit, by cellular, satellite, internet broadband and intranet, andwherein the network has first programming to provide a plurality ofrunning average baselines of at least one sensed value of at least oneof said sensor and sub-sensor devices, and second programming to declarea potential alert when a sensed value of said at least one of saidsensor and sub-sensor devices is at a value which is either (1) greaterthan a corresponding predetermined upper threshold value or acorresponding running average baseline value (whichever is greater) plusa corresponding predetermined upper fluctuation buffer value, or (2)less than a corresponding predetermined lower threshold value or acorresponding running average baseline value (whichever is less) less acorresponding predetermined lower fluctuation buffer value.
 7. Thenetwork according to claim 6 wherein said portable or mobile sensordevice has a size which is less than about 8 inches by 8 inches by 8inches.
 8. The network according to claim 6 wherein said portable ormobile sensor device includes means for communicating with an associateddetector unit via an Internet of Things (“IoT”) mesh multi-hop, ZigBee,Z-Wave, IPV6, WiFi or Cellular network arrangement.
 9. The networkaccording to claim 6 wherein at least one of said sensor devices andsub-sensor devices is modular and may be mobile.
 10. The networkaccording to claim 6 wherein the network has programming for comparingvalues of said sensor devices and sub-sensor devices with predeterminedthreshold values in a manner to minimize false positive values of saidsensor and sub-sensor devices while minimizing introduction of falsenegative values of said sensor devices and sub-sensor devices indeciding whether an alert or urgent alert should be declared.
 11. Thenetwork according to claim 6 wherein the network has programming todeclare an urgent alert when one of said wireless detector units failsto communicate with said central monitoring unit within a predeterminedtime period or when one of said wireless sensor devices fails tocommunicate with said respective wireless detector unit within apredetermined time period or when one of said wireless sub-sensordevices fails to communicate with said respective wireless sensor devicewithin a predetermined time period.
 12. The network according to claim 6wherein the network has third programming to determine to declare anurgent alert when a sensed value for a wireless sensor device orwireless sub-sensor device is non-compliant with a predetermined maximumor minimum allowable sensed value.
 13. A data sensing and environmentalthreat detecting network for detecting and reporting environmentalthreats within a venue, the network comprising a plurality of wirelessdetector units each having a transmitter and a receiver for respectivelytransmitting and receiving environmental, rate of change and locationcoordinates data information within the venue and each having a dataprocessor, the network further comprising a plurality of sensor deviceseach of which sensor devices having a transmitter and a receiver forrespectively transmitting and receiving environmental data informationwithin the venue and each of which sensor devices having a dataprocessor, said detector units and said sensor devices being connectedto Internet of Things (“IoT”) mesh multi-hop, ZigBee, IPV6, WiFi orCellular networks whereby said detector unit data processors and saidsensor device data processors have programming which allowscommunication alternately to and from more than one of others of saiddetector units and said sensor devices in a manner such thattransmission of data from said sensor devices to said detector units andcommunication from said detector units to said sensor devices may beeffected over alternate wireless paths whereby the transmission of datafrom said sensor devices to said detector units and communication fromsaid detector units to said sensor devices may be effected usingoptimized wireless paths, the network further comprising means forblanketing substantially all of physical space in the venue withlow-cost, low power, low energy use devices for sensing environmental,rate of change and location coordinates in a quantity of said low-costdevices so that substantially all of physical space in the venue can besampled inexpensively, said means for blanketing comprising a pluralityof environmental and location coordinates data sub-sensor devicesequipped with low power wireless communications technology and eachhaving a transmitter and a receiver for respectively transmitting andreceiving information and each haying a processor whereby the distanceover which said sub-sensor devices are equipped to wirelessly transmitdata is limited by the low power wireless communications technologythereof, said sub-sensor processor programmed for communication with anassociated one of said sensor devices which is sufficiently nearby towirelessly receive data transmitted from said respective low powerwireless communications technology sub-sensor device, and wherein saidsensor devices are equipped to communicate with said detector units andwith others of said sensor devices over distances which are greater thanthe limited distance over which said sub-sensor devices are equipped tocommunicate, the network further comprising a central monitoring unitwhich is programmed to communicate to and from said detector units, bycellular, satellite, internet broadband or intranet networking formanagement of routing of transmissions of environmental and locationcoordinates and rate of change data and confirmation of detector andsensor device response within pre-determined timeframes between saidsensor devices and said detector units over optimized paths and forcomparing the environmental and location coordinates data between saidsensor devices and said sub-sensor devices within the venue to determinewhether an environmental threat exists within the venue, wherein saiddetector units are equipped to receive and process sensed and locationcoordinates information from said sensor devices and transmit theprocessed sensed and location coordinates information to said centralmonitoring unit, and wherein said sensor and sub-sensor devices includeat least one wireless condition sensing device, and wherein the networkhas programming to (a) declare an aware state when a non-compliantcondition is sensed by said wireless condition sensing device and (b)after an aware state of the sensed condition has been declared by saidwireless condition sensing device, to declare an alert after apredetermined number of cycles of the condition being sensed or todeclare an urgent alert or to declare a normal state if the condition isnot sensed during one of the subsequent predetermined number of cycles.14. The network according to claim 13 wherein the network hasprogramming to declare an urgent alert when one of said wirelessdetector units fails to communicate with said central monitoring unitwithin a predetermined time period or when one of said wireless sensordevices fails to communicate with said respective wireless detector unitwithin a predetermined time period or when one of said wirelesssub-sensors devices fails to communicate with said respective wirelesssensor device within a predetermined time period or when one of saidwireless detector units fails to communicate its location coordinates tosaid central monitoring unit within a predetermined time period or whenone of said wireless sensor devices fails to communicate its locationcoordinates to said respective wireless detector unit within apredetermined time period or when one of said wireless sub-sensordevices tails to communicate its location coordinates to said respectivewireless sensor device within a predetermined time period.
 15. Thenetwork according to claim 13 wherein at least one of said sensordevices and sub-sensor devices is modular and may be mobile.
 16. Thenetwork according to claim 13 wherein the network has programming forcomparing values of said sensor devices and sub-sensor devices withpredetermined threshold values in a manner to minimize false positivevalues of said sensor and sub-sensor devices while minimizingintroduction of false negative values of said sensor devices andsub-sensor devices in deciding whether an alert or urgent alert shouldbe declared.
 17. The network according to claim 13 wherein the networkhas fest programming to provide a plurality of running average baselinesof at least one sensed value of at least one of said sensor andsub-sensor devices, and second programming to declare a potential alertwhen a sensed value of said at least one of said sensor and sub-sensordevices is at a value which is either (i) greater than a correspondingpredetermined upper threshold value or a corresponding running averagebaseline value (whichever is greater) plus a corresponding predeterminedupper fluctuation buffer value, or (ii) less than a correspondingpredetermined lower threshold value or a corresponding running averagebaseline value (whichever is less) less a corresponding predeterminedlower fluctuation buffer value, and third programming to declare analert when a sensed value of said sensor or sub-sensor devices, relativeto its prior sensed value, is at a differential value greater than itsallowed corresponding predetermined upper rate of change threshold overa predetermined period of time, or pro-rated portion thereof or is at adifferential value less than its allowed corresponding predeterminedlower rate of change threshold over a predetermined period of time, orpro-rated portion thereof and fourth programming to declare an urgentalert when the location coordinates of a said detector unit or saidsensor device or said sub-sensor device is at a differential value whichis greater than the allowed corresponding predetermined GlobalPositioning System and/or Cellular Triangulation System, differentialthreshold, and fifth programming after an alert or urgent alert has beendeclared, to enable a wireless sensor device to power relationaldevices, consisting of any or all of the following, water/liquid pumps,security beacons, video surveillance systems, audio surveillancesystems, lighting systems and audio response systems, and confirm thatthe relational device(s) has/have been enabled.
 18. The networkaccording to claim 13 wherein the network has first programming todeclare a potential alert when a sensed value of said at least one ofsaid sensor and sub-sensor devices is at a value which is either (1)greater than a corresponding predetermined upper threshold value plus acorresponding predetermined upper fluctuation buffer value, or (2) lessthan a corresponding predetermined lower threshold value less acorresponding predetermined lower fluctuation buffer value, and secondprogramming to declare an alert when a sensed value of said sensor orsub-sensor devices, relative to its prior sensed value, is at adifferential value greater than its allowed corresponding predeterminedupper rate of change threshold over a predetermined period of time orpro-rated portion thereof or is at a differential value less than itsallowed corresponding predetermined lower rate of change threshold overa predetermined period of time or pro-rated portion thereof and thirdprogramming to declare an urgent alert when the location coordinates ofa said detector unit or said sensor device or said sub-sensor device isat a differential value which is greater than the allowed correspondingpredetermined Global Positioning System and/or Cellular TriangulationSystem, differential threshold, and fourth programming after an alert orurgent alert has been declared, to enable a wireless sensor device topower relational devices, consisting of any or all of the following,water/liquid pumps, security beacons, video surveillance systems, audiosurveillance systems, lighting systems and audio response systems, andconfirm that the relational device(s) has/have been enabled.
 19. Thenetwork according to claim 13 wherein the network has programming todetermine to declare an urgent alert when a sensed value for a wirelesssensor device or wireless sub-sensor device is non-compliant with apredetermined maximum or minimum allowable sensed value.
 20. A networkaccording to claim 13 wherein said portable or mobile sensor device hasa size which is less than about 8 inches by 8 inches by 8 inches.